The start lists of the past two editions of the Giro d’Italia have been notable for their complete absence of any British riders. Given the number and talent of British riders currently in the WorldTour, this was something of a disappointment to GB fans.

It’s back to business this year for the 100th edition, however, as Britain will have three riders lining up in Sardinia on Friday for the Grande Partenza – two of whom are going for the overall honours.

Geraint Thomas (Team Sky), Adam Yates (Orica-GreenEdge) and Hugh Carthy (Cannondale-Drapac) are included in the roll call of pros in the opening Grand Tour of the 2017 season.

>>> Giro d’Italia 2017 route: stages and key climbs

Thomas will co-lead Team Sky alongside Spaniard Mikel Landa, as Sky attempts to put a rider on the final podium in Milan for the first time since Colombian Rigoberto Uran placed second in 2013.

Yates will lead Australian outfit Orica-Scott in the race as he rides the race for the first time in his career after placing an impressive fourth in last year’s Tour de France.

Although Carthy isn’t the nominated leader in his Cannondale-Drapac team, he does go into the race as one of the American squad’s strongest climbers.

The 2017 Giro d’Italia starts in Sardinia on Friday, May 5, and concludes in Milan three weeks later on Sunday, May 28.

Geraint Thomas

Team: Team Sky
Date of birth (age): May 25 1986 (30)
Birthplace: Cardiff, Wales

Geraint Thomas. Photo: Yuzuru Sunada

Geraint Thomas‘s 2016 season – the first in which he switched focus from Classics to stage races – yielded mixed results. His Paris-Nice win was a highlight, as was his successful defence of his Volta ao Algarve victory from 2015, but he faltered during the Tour de France and finished 15th, although that’s still a decent result.

This year he’s been nominated as co-leader at the Giro d’Italia with Mikel Landa, giving him the opportunity to shine in a Grand Tour. Victory in the Tour of the Alps in April show he’s on good form.

>>> ‘Geraint Thomas has got to be the most talented rider I’ve ever worked with’

Adam Yates

Team: Orica-Scott
Date of birth (age): August 7 1992 (24)
Birthplace: Bury

Adam Yates. Photo: Yuzuru Sunada

Along with brother Simon and team-mate Esteban Chaves, Adam Yates is part of Orica-Scott’s new line-up of Grand Tour hopefuls. A hugely impressive performance in the 2016 Tour de France saw him take fourth place overall and the white jersey of best young rider in just his second outing in the race.

However, he is an unknown quantity in the Giro as he makes his debut, and must also do without the support of brother Simon, who was given a call-up for the Tour in July due to Chaves’s injury.

Hugh Carthy

Team: Cannondale-Drapac
Date of birth (age): July 9 1994 (22)
Birthplace: Preston, Lancashire

Hugh Carthy. Photo: Cor Vos/Cannondale-Drapac

After two years with Spanish outfit Caja Rural–Seguros RGA, Hugh Carthy has stepped up to the WorldTour for 2017 with American team Cannondale-Drapac. Carthy has already forged a name for himself has a climbing specialist, and took overall victory in the 2016 Vuelta a Asturias and ninth overall in the Volta a Catalunya WorldTour race.

Carthy has proven he can race at the top level, and now it will be interesting to see how he progresses with a bigger team around him. He’s also still seeking a good result from the 2017 season so far.