British ProTeam to put out powerful roster at Great Britain National Championships
The Sky Procycling Team has confirmed its roster for the British National Championships, to be contested in Stamfordham, Northumberland, in the north east of England at the end of this month. The team will be led by defending champion Geraint Thomas, who took the title in Lancashire last year, ahead of teammates Peter Kennaugh and Ian Stannard.
"I'm obviously going to try my best to win it again,” said Thomas, “but it's going to be hard as it looks a bit of an easier course than last year so a lot more guys can race it.
"But it has been great being the national champion over the last 12 months,” he added. “It's like representing Great Britain in every race you are in. You obviously stand out a bit more and it's similar to wearing the leader's jersey in a stage race, you just get that lift every day you’ve got it on."
In the last twelve months, Thomas’ white jersey, with it’s red and blue bands, has been seen at the front of many of the sport’s biggest races, including last year’s Tour de France where he finished second to Thor Hushovd on the tough cobbled stage to Arenberg-Porte du Hainaut. So far this season he has taken second in Dwars Door Vlaanderen, finished tenth in the Ronde van Vlaanderen after featuring in the decisive stages, and won the Bayern-Rundfahrt.
He was also visible in today’s stage of the Critérium du Dauphiné, working hard to close a gap for team leader Bradley Wiggins when the peloton split in the crosswinds.
"It's definitely been a pretty memorable 12 months,” he said, “and wearing the national champion's jersey as well has made it even more special."
As well as Thomas, Kennaugh and Stannard, the Sky team will include Wiggins, former champions Russell Downing and Jeremy Hunt, Alex Dowsett, Chris Froome and Ben Swift. It will be by far the most powerful squad in the race, but will have to watch out for a number of big names, including HTC-Highroad’s Mark Cavendish.
"It's always a bit different at the nationals,” Thomas concluded. “It obviously means a lot to so many people and everyone wants to win it. We’ll just take it as it comes and see what happens but it should be a great day again."