Team Sky Set For Euro Debut

Team Sky will make their European debut at the traditional curtain-raiser to the new season - Sunday's Grand Prix Cycliste la Marseillaise.

The 139.7km route starts and finishes in Marseille and the Team Sky squad comprises John-Lee Augustyn, Michael Barry, Sylvain Calzati, Steve Cummings, Peter Kennaugh, Nicolas Portal and Morris Possoni.

The race began in 1988 and quickly became one of the key early meets on the calendar due to the mild conditions which commonly greet riders on the Mediterranean coast. In 2005 the UCI awarded it 1.1-ranked status in order to continually attract the biggest names in the business.

Although a popular event in its own right, many teams use the race as a precursor for the five-stage Etoile de Bessèges, which also takes place in the region. This year is no exception and every member of the Team Sky line-up will be on hand once again on February 3.
Excitement building

Augustyn describes himself as "super-excited" ahead of his first races in Team Sky colours.

The 23-year-old joined the team with a reputation as being one the sport's top young climbers and has certainly looked the part on his pre-season training rides.

Although he has yet to sample either of the two events in the south of France, Augustyn is preparing to give them his all as Team Sky look to make their mark in Europe.

He said: "Everything has been going really well. I only had four days at the training camp in Valencia but I've been riding with the guys around my new base in Quaratta, Italy, learning all the roads and so on.

"Things have been running smoothly and that is a massive help because it means everyone is so motivated. It's awesome.

"These are my first races of the season so I'm going to be racing as hard as I can. I haven't been given a specific role in the team as yet, but I'm guessing it will be helping the other guys out as and when they need it."

Another man looking forward to this weekend's race is Kennaugh who will be making his ProTour debut.

He's the only neopro on the Team Sky roster, but has already shone in the amateur ranks, claiming third place in the 'Baby Giro' and fourth in the World Under-23 Championships last season.

Since the first team training camp in Valencia, the 20-year-old has also been steadily building up his fitness in Quarrata.

Sprint finish

He said: "For the first five days after the camp I was going out for two to three hours every morning, taking things really steadily in order to soak up the effects of the camp, but after that I upped my efforts to between four and five hours.

"I've ridden with Steve Cummings a lot because he only lives 200 metres away, and John-Lee Augustyn and Morris Possoni have also been down as well.

"Steve has ridden both these races before and he was saying the Marseillaise often comes down to a sprint."