EDVALD BOASSON HAGEN
Rider Profile
Edvald Boasson Hagen is one of the strongest all-rounders in the sport and has claimed over 60 victories since launching his professional career in 2006. The highest-profile of those were the two Tour de France stages he won for Team Sky in 2011, and the Norwegian can also boast triumphs at Ghent-Wevelgem, the Giro d’Italia, and seven national titles among his glittering palmares.
A two-time winner of his national tour in Norway, Boasson Hagen has also been part of both Team Sky’s Tour de France-winning squads.
The ability to win from bunch sprints, breakaways and time trials have marked Boasson Hagen out as one of the most versatile talents in the peloton, and even when he is not going for victories himself, he can be found burying himself in support of his team-mates.
IAN BOSWELL
Rider Profile
Having learn the ropes in 2013, this year marks Ian Boswell’s second season among the professional ranks. One of three Americans on the Team Sky roster, Boswell arrived alongside Joe Dombrowski last season and represents the new wave of up-and-coming stage race riders.
Team Sky identified Boswell as one of the world’s best young all-rounders in 2012 after he followed up his runners up spot at the under-23 Liege-Bastogne-Liege with impressive climbing displays at the Tours of Utah and l’Avenir.
After making the step up to the seniors in 2013, Boswell helped Team Sky to victories at both Paris-Nice and the Tour of Norway, and the rider from Oregon also showed his burgeoning ability by shaking off injury to pick up a top 15 finish at the Tour of Austria.
DARIO CATALDO
Rider Profile
A strong addition to the team’s stage race talent in 2013, Dario Cataldo has quickly become an integral and highly-valued member of the squad.
The 2012 Italian Time Trial Champion possesses impressive all-round abilities, with 12th-placed finishes in consecutive editions of the Giro d’Italia (2011-12) providing ample evidence he can compete over a three-week period.
With 10 Grand Tours already under his belt, Cataldo has considerable stage race experience and claimed a notable victory on the queen stage at the Vuelta a Espana in 2012 on the steep ramps of the Cuitu Negru.
PHILIP DEIGNAN
Rider Profile
One of four new signings for 2014, Philip Deignan is the first Irishman to ride in Team Sky colours. Now into his 10th year as a pro, Deignan has made his return to WorldTour level and is more motivated than ever to show what he can do.
With six Grand Tour appearances to his name - including a stage victory and top-10 overall finish at the 2009 Vuelta a Espana - climbing specialist Deignan has experience in three-week competitions as well as an enviable stage race record.
2013 saw the Irishman excel on American soil, collecting a string of top results at the Tours of the Gila, California, Utah, and the USA Pro Challenge.
JOE DOMBROWSKI
Rider Profile
Joe Dombrowski will continue his development this year after a strong debut season riding at the highest level in the sport.
One of the brightest talents on the American scene, the Virginian first crossed the Atlantic in 2011 and went from strength to strength in 2012, proving he could compete with the best riders in the world at the Tour of California when he finished fourth on the summit of Mount Baldy. That fine form continued at the Baby Giro, where Dombrowski sealed the overall victory with two mountain stage wins.
Dombrowski settled into life quickly at Team Sky in 2013 and demonstrated why he is considered one of the top climbing talents in cycling by bagging top-10 stage finishes in the Tours of Switzerland and Austria, as well as in the season finale at the Japan Cup.
NATHAN EARLE
Rider Profile
The signing of Nathan Earle for 2014 continues Team Sky’s commitment to developing up-and-coming cycling talent from around the world.
The Tasmanian gained a reputation as a strong climber in 2013 after a string of impressive results in the Australian National Road Series, and also impressed abroad with his victories at the New Zealand Cycle Classic, Tour de Taiwan and Tour of Japan.
Earle - who rode with Team Sky’s fellow Tasmanian Richie Porte for two years at the Praties squad (currently Huon Salmon – Genesys Wealth Advisors) in 2008 and 2009 - has firmly established himself as a rider ready to make the step up to WorldTour level.
JOSH EDMONDSON
Rider Profile
A rider on the rise, Josh Edmondson demonstrated his climbing prowess during his first season as a professional in 2013 and can already boast a string of impressive results on his palmares.
Edmondson shot to prominence with a superb attacking display at the Tour of Britain in 2012, and backed that up during his neo-pro season at Team Sky with top-10 finishes in stages of the Volta ao Algarve and USA Pro Challenge, as well as an equally high placing in the season-ending Japan Cup.
The Yorkshireman is aiming to build on those performances in 2014 and firmly establish himself as one of the most exciting talents in the sport.
BERNHARD EISEL
Rider Profile
Bernhard Eisel is one of the most experienced riders on the Team Sky roster and has ridden in 14 Grand Tours during his 13 seasons as a professional. The most memorable of those was helping Sir Bradley Wiggins claim Team Sky’s first Tour de France victory in 2012, and Eisel also aided Mark Cavendish in his green jersey success 12 months before.
Although the Austrian has sacrificed his own chances of success countless times for others, he still boasts an enviable palmares which includes victories at Ghent-Wevelgem and Paris-Bourges among a long list of others. It is those one-day Classics where Eisel shines, although his leadership and tactical awareness make him an integral part of the squad at any point in the season.
CHRIS FROOME
Rider Profile
During his time with Team Sky, Chris Froome has enjoyed a rapid progression and become arguably the best stage race rider in the world – culminating in his victory at the 2013 Tour de France.
Froome shot to prominence by finishing runner up at the 2011 Vuelta a Espana and followed that up the following season when he and Sir Bradley Wiggins earned a remarkable one-two triumph for Team Sky at the Tour de France. Froome also added an Olympic bronze medal to his collection before rounding a fine 2012 season out with another top-four finish at the Vuelta.
The Kenyan-born rider went from strength to strength in 2013 and embarked on an incredible campaign which saw him take overall victories at the Tour of Oman, Criterium International, Tour de Romandie and Criterium du Dauphine before winning three stages en route to his first Tour de France yellow jersey.
SEBASTIAN HENAO
Rider Profile
Team Sky’s Colombian contingent is a family affair in 2014 with Sebastian Henao joining cousin Sergio in the team. The youngest rider on the roster and an exciting climber to boot, Sebastian is the latest in a long line of his countrymen to make the step up to the WorldTour – reaffirming Colombia’s credentials as a cycling super power in the process.
Rising through the ranks, Henao made a splash at his home tour – the Vuelta a Colombia – by claiming the young rider’s jersey in 2013. With plenty to learn in the pro ranks, gaining experience at the biggest races in the world will be the priority for Henao in his neo-pro season.
SERGIO HENAO
Rider Profile
Sergio Henao is one of the most exciting talents to come out of South America in years and has been a revelation since bursting onto the European scene at the start of 2012.
The Colombian hit the ground running during his debut season at Team Sky and achieved a top-10 finish in his first Grand Tour appearance at the Giro d’Italia, as well as enjoying a spell in the best young rider’s jersey.
Henao’s progression continued into 2013 and saw him claim his first stage victories at the Volta ao Algarve and Vuelta al Pais Vasco before demonstrating his one-day prowess with a hard-fought second-place at Fleche Wallonne.
2014 promises to be another memorable campaign for this exciting, world-class climber, who is joined at Team Sky this season by his younger cousin Sebastian.
PETER KENNAUGH
Rider Profile
Peter Kennaugh came of age as a road cyclist in 2013 by helping Team Sky secure a second consecutive Tour de France victory. After committing fully to the road following his gold medal-winning performance on the track at London Olympic Games, Kennaugh was an integral part of the team which saw Chris Froome sweep all before him on his path to the yellow jersey.
The Manxman helped Froome to victories at the Tours of Oman, Romandie and the Criterium du Dauphine before proving a key wingman in the biggest race of them all.
Kennaugh has been with Team Sky since their inception marked himself out as an exciting climbing talent by finishing third in a mountainous 2011 edition of the Route du Sud. Having improved in every area since then, 2014 promises to be another memorable campaign for one of British cycling’s brightest talents.
vasil kiryienka
Rider Profile
Vasil Kiryienka has become a cult hero since joining Team Sky in 2013 and is best known for his power, consistency and machine-like riding style.
Kiryienka made his name with solo stage victories at the 2008 and 2011 editions of the Giro d’Italia, and his all-round credentials were highlighted further when he took the bronze medal in the 2012 World Time Trial Championships in Limburg.
He became the second Belarusian to join Team Sky after Kanstantsin Siutsou last season, and his inspirational riding proved a key factor in the team’s stage race successes. Kiryienka helped achieve no less than five race victories during the first half of 2013, and after helping Chris Froome achieve a memorable Tour de France win in July, he battled on to claim an epic stage win himself at the Vuelta a Espana.
CHRISTIAN KNEES
Rider Profile
Since his arrival at the start of 2011, Christian Knees has marked himself out as one of Team Sky’s strongest domestiques. After helping Sir Bradley Wiggins to victory in his seventh consecutive Tour de France appearance in 2012, Knees was a vital part of the 2013 Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a Espana line ups.
Those performances mean German is no stranger to the big stage, and his unwavering presence during his three seasons at Team Sky have helped yield eight race victories in total.
Knees turned professional with Team Wiesenhof in 2004 but made the switch to Milram in 2006 and took the Rund um Koln title in his first season with his new team. The Bayern-Rundfahrt title would follow in 2008, and Knees also claimed the German national champion’s jersey in 2010 before making his switch to Team sky.
DAVID LOPEZ
Rider Profile
Despite having competed exclusively for Spanish teams since turning pro in 2005, David López immediately settled into to his new environment at Team Sky in 2013.
A member of the Tour de France-winning squad in what was his 12th Grand Tour appearance, López proved himself to be a strong and reliable rider who was happy infiltrating breakaways as well as working tirelessly on the front of the bunch.
The Spaniard claimed the biggest win of his career in 2010 by taking a solo victory on the ninth stage of the Vuelta a Espana, and also pulled off a significant stage win for Team Sky at the Eneco Tour last year, topping the famous Col de la Redoute in first position.
MIKEL NIEVE
Rider Profile
A new addition to the team’s stage race roster for 2014, Mikel Nieve brings explosive climbing prowess and considerable Grand Tour experience with him to Team Sky.
Nieve turned pro in 2009 and has tackled six Grand Tours since then, completing three of them inside the top 10. Comfortable riding the grandest races, Nieve’s two stage victories to date have both come in Grand Tours, including a fine solo victory at the 2010 Vuelta a Espana and an equally-impressive triumph in the 2011 Giro d’Italia.
Happy to ride for his team-mates or target individual success, Nieve also took third place on Mont Ventoux behind Chris Froome during the 2013 Tour de France, going on to finish the race 13th overall.
DANNY PATE
Rider Profile
Danny Pate is widely considered as one of the hardest-working riders in the peloton and has played a pivotal role since joining Team Sky at the start of 2012. The American helped seal four race victories during his first season with the squad, and backed that up in 2013 by aiding Richie Porte to success at Paris-Nice.
That selfless and unwavering support of his team-mates has earned Pate seven Grand Tour appearances to date, which includes rides at the Vuelta a Espana and Giro d’Italia in Team Sky colours.
Pate turned professional at the turn of the millennium and hit the ground running by winning the World Under-23 Time Trial Championship in 2001. After joining the European race scene in 2006, he won the time trial at the Tour de Beauce and followed that up in 2007 with a stage win at the Tour of Missouri.
In the two years that followed, Pate earned top-three stage finishes at the Giro d’Italia and Tour de France, and in 2011 was part of the HTC-Highroad lead-out train which saw Mark Cavendish win the green jersey at the Tour before making his move to Team Sky.
RICHIE PORTE
Rider Profile
Richie Porte has enjoyed a meteoric rise since taking up the sport in 2006 and is now regarded as one of the very best in the business. He burst onto the scene at the 2010 Giro d’Italia and enjoyed a spell in the Maglia Rosa before securing seventh place overall and winning the young riders classification by a seven-minute margin.
Another success followed at the Tour of Denmark before Porte made the switch to Team Sky in 2012 and consolidated his place among the world’s elite riders. His spell in black and blue got off to the perfect start by winning a stage on the way to overall victory at the Volta ao Algarve, and more big results quickly followed.
Porte bagged four stage wins during a landmark 2013 campaign as well as romping to the overall victory at Paris-Nice and following Chris Froome home in 1-2 results at Criterium International and Criterium du Dauphine.
Porte’s excellence in the mountains and enviable time trialling ability have made him an invaluable asset to Team Sky. Now riding with the confidence of a team leader in his own right, the Tasmanian will be looking for another memorable season in 2014.
SALVATORE PUCCIO
Rider Profile
At such a young age, few riders have clocked up as much experience as Salvatore Puccio. The Italian continued his development in 2013 by riding four of the five Monuments and took part in his first Grand Tour at the Giro d’Italia. Not only did Puccio complete that race, he did so having donned the fabled Maglia Rosa for one special stage, and achieved two top-10 results in the process.
The Italian first caught the eye as an amateur after racking up wins in the Toscana-Coppa delle Nazioni and Firenze-Viareggio, but it was his fantastic solo victory in the 2011 under-23 Tour of Flanders which prompted Team Sky to snap him up.
Since then, Puccio has been given time to develop his talents and the Sicilian has grown to become a valued cog in the Team Sky machine. Numerous top-10 results have proved he can hold his own at the very pinnacle of the sport and his versatility makes him a valuable part of the team.
GABRIEL RASCH
Rider Profile
Gabriel Rasch’s 2014 campaign will be a unique one, as once he rounds out his riding career after his beloved Spring Classics, he will move into the team car and become a Sports Director for Team Sky.
Having come through the ranks alongside compatriot Edvald Boasson Hagen, ‘Gabba’ has made a name for himself due to his impressive work ethic. That focused approach, and the knowledge gained from seven seasons in the peloton, will prove a valuable asset in his new role with Team Sky, and we’re delighted to keep him in the family.
On the bike, Rasch comes into his own in the one-day Classics that throw up some of the toughest terrain in the cycling calendar. A former national road champion and two-time Ringerike GP winner in his native Norway, Rasch will be riding hard to ensure he goes out with a bang in his final months at the pinnacle of the sport.
LUKE ROWE
Rider Profile
Luke Rowe went from strength to strength during his second season as a professional with a full cobbled classics campaign being followed by a Grand Tour debut at the Vuelta a Espana.
The Welshman also achieved five top-10 finishes in 2013 which backed up a solid 2012 campaign which saw him bag his first stage victory at the Tour of Britain and enjoy a spell in the leader’s jersey.
When Rowe isn’t going for victories himself, he is a highly-adept domestique and lead-out rider, and his robust displays mean he is en route to becoming a Classics specialist in the future.
KANSTANTSIN SIUTSOU
Rider Profile
One of the toughest and most reliable workers in the peloton, Kanstantsin Siutsou is as strong on the climbs as he is on the flat. A multiple Belarusian champion in both the time trial and on the road, the rider affectionately known as ‘Kosta’ has proved he is able to capture big results in his own right as well as for his team.
An under-23 world champion with a top-10 finish at the Giro d’Italia on his palmares, Siutsou contributed to seven race victories during his first season at Team Sky and enjoyed an equally successful 2013 campaign which saw him take a solo stage triumph at the Giro del Trentino before forming an integral part of Chris Froome’s Tour de France-winning squad.
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