And the Wigan-born rider is raring to go on the big stage, saying: “I’m really looking forward to starting the season at the Tour Down Under.

“Going over there with a young team should be pretty fun. It should be good seeing how we all bounce off each other and I’m sure we’ll all be really enthusiastic to get up there and get stuck in.”

Salvatore Puccio and Lukasz Wisniowski complete the line-up, and directeur sportif Brett Lancaster expects the race to follow tradition with opportunities for the sprinters before the decisive GC stage on Willunga Hill. It was on the climb that Richie Porte all-but-sealed his 2017 Tour Down Under victory.

Bernal’s likely competition will come from BMC Racing, who in defending champion Porte, Rohan Dennis and veteran new signing Simon Gerrans boast the last three winners of the race.

Former Team Sky man Peter Kennaugh will ride for Bora-hansgrohe for the first time, as part of a strong squad built around world champion Peter Sagan.

There are currently no further Brits on the start list, but Team Dimension Data and Mitchelton-Scott are still to name their line-ups.

Team Sky line-up for 2018 Tour Down Under

Jon Dibben (GBR)
Owain Doull (GBR)
Chris Lawless (GBR)
Egan Bernal (COL)
Kristoffer Halvorsen (NOR)
Salvatore Puccio (ITA)
Lukasz Wisniowski (POL)