Tim Elverson has named his Tour de Yorkshire squad and it is jam-packed with big-race potential.
The BIKE Channel Canyon sports director has admitted selecting eight riders for the exciting UCI 2.1 contest was one of the toughest jobs he has had in bike racing.
But he is confident the team he has picked will do the jersey justice and give the sponsors plenty to smile about over the coming days.
The race begins on Friday with a 173km stage from Bridlington to Scarborough, where a bunch sprint could be in prospect.
Elverson has no shortage of quick men in his line-up, too, with Chris Opie lining up for his third Tour de Yorkshire.
Opie, who finished fourth in the stage to Doncaster last season and 14th in York the previous year, is joined by the in-form Rory Townsend and Harry Tanfield.
Townsend has placed fifth, sixth and fourth in the Tour of the Wolds, Chorley Grand Prix and Rutland-Melton International CiCLE Classic this month.
Meanwhile, Tanfield will compete in his second Tour de Yorkshire. He finished ninth on the stage to York in 2015 as he finished 82nd on general classification.
Another man who raced that edition is Dexter Gardias. And he will roll out on Friday fresh from fourth in the Chorley Grand Prix and victory in the Stockbridge Down Road Race.
Elverson has also selected former NFTO duo James Lowsley-Williams and Rob Partridge in his squad.
They have been ever-presents since the event was launched in 2015 and will bring a wealth of stage-race experience to the team.
The eight-man line-up is then completed by Tour de Yorkshire debutants Max Stedman and Jack Pullar, who will both hope to use their climbing prowess to make an impact, particularly on the daunting third and final stage which is expected to prove decisive for the overall victory.
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