It's all systems go for Team Sky, as the British squad is officially unveiled to the press and public in central London today. Alongside the high-profile presentation, the team rosters for the first races have also been revealed.
The British team makes its highly-anticipated debut at the Tour Down Under, which kicks off with a city-centre criterium around Adelaide on 17 January.
Antipodean sprinters Greg Henderson and Chris Sutton will be keen to get the squad off to a winning start, while Brits Russell Downing and Ben Swift also feature in the line-up.
The squad's European debut comes a fortnight later at the GP Cycliste la Marseillaise, before racing at the Etoile de Bessèges, where star turn Bradley Wiggins will make his 2010 debut.
Sky will also be heading to the Persian Gulf for the Tours of Qatar and Oman. Norwegian super-talent Edvald Boasson Hagen spearheads the team's charge alongside fellow Classics heavyweight Juan Antonio Flecha.
With competition for a Tour de France place fierce, Team Sky will be particularly keen to show their talent in these desert stage races as they are managed by ASO, which is also responsible for cycling's flagship race.
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Following the Tour du Haut Var, Simon Gerrans and Thomas Löfkvist make their debuts - barring mishap, all 26 of Sky's riders will do their first races in January or February - at the Ruta del Sol before attention turns to Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne.
Tour Down Under (17-24 January) roster: Russell Downing, Chris Froome, Mat Hayman, Greg Henderson, Chris Sutton, Ben Swift and Davide Viganò.
GP Cycliste la Marseillaise (31 January) roster: John-Lee Augustyn, Michael Barry, Sylvain Calzati, Steve Cummings, Peter Kennaugh, Nicolas Portal and Morris Possoni.
Etoile de Bessèges (3-7 February) roster: John-Lee Augustyn, Michael Barry, Sylvain Calzati, Steve Cummings, Peter Kennaugh, Nicolas Portal, Morris Possoni and Bradley Wiggins.
Tour of Qatar (7-12 February) roster: Kurt-Asle Arvesen, Edvald Boasson Hagen, Russell Downing, Juan Antonio
Flecha, Lars-Petter Nordhaug, Ian Stannard, Geraint Thomas and Davide Viganò.
Tour of Oman (14-19 February) roster: Kurt-Asle Arvesen, Edvald Boasson Hagen, Juan Antonio Flecha, Mat Hayman, Lars-Petter Nordhaug, Ian Stannard, Chris Sutton and Geraint Thomas.
Tour du Haut Var (20-21 February) roster: Michael Barry, Sylvain Calzati, Dario Cioni, Chris Froome, Peter Kennaugh, Morris Possoni, Ben Swift and Davide Viganò.
Vuelta a Andalucia/Ruta del Sol (21-25 February) roster: Kjell Carlström, Steve Cummings, Simon Gerrans, Greg Henderson, Thomas Löfkvist, Serge Pauwels, Nicolas Portal and Bradley Wiggins.
Omloop Het Nieuwsblad (27 February) roster: Kurt-Asle Arvesen, Michael Barry, Edvald Boasson Hagen, Juan Antonio Flecha, Mat Hayman, Ian Stannard, Chris Sutton and Davide Viganò.
GP dell'Insubria-Lugano (27 February) roster: John-Lee Augustyn, Sylvain Calzati, Dario Cioni, Chris Froome, Peter Kennaugh, Morris Possoni and Ben Swift.
Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne (28 February) roster: Kurt-Asle Arvesen, Michael Barry, Edvald Boasson Hagen, Juan Antonio Flecha, Mat Hayman, Ian Stannard, Chris Sutton and Davide Viganò.
GP di Lugano (28 February) roster: John-Lee Augustyn, Sylvain Calzati, Dario Cioni, Chris Froome, Peter Kennaugh, Morris Possoni and Ben Swift.
Clasica de Almeria (28 February) roster: Kjell Carlström, Steve Cummings, Russell Downing, Simon Gerrans, Greg Henderson, Thomas Löfkvist, Serge Pauwels and Nicolas Portal.
Related links
TeamSky launch photo gallery, by Andy Jones Team Sky - as it happensBradley Wiggins joins Team Sky
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