Tom Boonen and Niki Terpstra will race at the European Games (Watson)
(Image credit: Watson)
Great Britain haven't sent a cycling team to the European Games, but luckily a lot of other countries haven't followed in our ambivalence.
A host of well known WorldTour riders are set to start the race in Baku's Freedom Square on Sunday, heading out for a few laps of a 13.9km circuit.
And it's not just a jaunt around the flat streets of the capital of Azerbaijan, it even includes a cobbled climb - something that will suit the Classics specialists down to the ground.
And there's a fair few of them there. Tom Boonen, Stijn Vandenbergh and Jens Keukeleire are present for the Belgians, while Niki Terpstra lines up for the Netherlands.
Etixx-Quick-Step's Frenchmen Julian Alaphilippe and Maxime Bouet will pull on their national colours and the Italians count Elia Viviani, Giacomo Nizzolo, Dario Cataldo and Filippo Pozzato in their squad.
Then there's the Irish contingent, which features young NFTO rider Eddy Dunbar, voted most aggressive rider on stage one of the Tour de Yorkshire and Ryan Mullen, who finished in the top-10 of the time trial on Thursday.
Stuart Clarke is a News Associates trained journalist who has worked for the likes of the British Olympic Associate, British Rowing and the England and Wales Cricket Board, and of course Cycling Weekly. His work at Cycling Weekly has focused upon professional racing, following the World Tour races and its characters.
