Rory Townsend is champing at the bit for a piece of the HSBC UK Spring Cup action.
And he reckons the squad sports director Tim Elverson has selected for the Tour of the Wolds has pace to burn.
The 21-year-old, from Addlestone in Surrey, will come into the BIKE Channel Canyon team for the 166km battle in Lincolnshire on Sunday (12.30pm).
George Atkins and Jake Womersley are also set to make their first appearance of the series in the Louth-based contest, which is new for 2017.
The trio will join Harry Tanfield, Sam Lowe, Chris Opie, Jack Pullar and James Lowsley-Williams who were part of the line-up that performed so brilliantly in the curtain-raising East Cleveland Klondike Grand Prix last weekend.
Tanfield was third, Lowe sixth and Opie 11th as BIKE Channel Canyon finished the opening race as the leading team.
Townsend revealed he has been inspired by their performance, although admitted a tinge of jealously as he waited his turn to play a part. He said:

“Everyone who was not at Klondike felt like they were missing out. It is always very special to be at the first race.
“But that just means there is no lack of motivation among the boys coming in to build on the good work the others have started.
“It is a fast team this one. It is a quick squad Tim has assembled and I think, from any position we find ourselves in on the road, there is someone who can potentially challenge for the win.
“I know very little about the parcours. I know the finish is a small circuit and it is pretty tight, which might play into our hands.
“We have got a lot of decent crit riders and that course should play to our strengths. It is a very fast team and we have a number of different options.”

While his team-mates were impressing at the top table of the domestic scene last Sunday, Townsend was putting himself through the wringer at home.
He backed up two big days in the saddle, totalling the best part of 300km, with victory in the 130km Coalville Wheelers Road Race. He said:

“I did a bit of a Tour de Yorkshire simulation. I did two big days and then went straight into the National B on Sunday, which I won.
“I was cramping up on the start line before the race! But I think that meant I rode the race a little smarter and got the result.
“On the way home I was picking up what the lads were doing up in Klondike. I have watched the highlights now, too.
“The guys looked really good. They took the race on with 3km to go and made a bit of an assault at the front, which was really good to see.
“It was a pity about the crash which hampered Chris. But the way Harry took it up just showed the strength in depth we have and the number of cards we have to play.
“I would be worried looking in. I’d be wondering who are they going to go for today? We have so many options.”

You can follow live updates from the Tour of the Wolds on the British Cycling website or on Twitter, with reports, reaction and pictures across all our social media platforms and here at bikechannelcanyon.co.uk