Ian Stannard (Team Sky)
Ian Stannard (Team Sky)
Ian Stannard made his Tour de France debut in support of Chris Froome in 2013 and has come back strong after injury wrecked his 2014 season.
The Essex rider, 28, was fourth at the Tour of Qatar, won the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad for a second time and was third at the British national championships.
In between, he rode for Chris Froome at the Tour de Romandie and Criterium du Dauphine and will be the man charged with keeping breakaway in check at the Tour de France.
Stannard’s engine was hugely important to the Team Sky cause in 2013, and he would surely have ridden last year too were it not for his broken back.
Stannard will also offer valuable support on the cobbles and the flatter stages.
Ian Stannard at the Tour de France
2015 highlights: Tour of Qatar (fourth overall), Omloop Het Nieuwsblad (winner), British National Road Race (third).
Tour de France participations: one (2013)
Best result: 135th (2013)
Stage wins: none
What to expect: Lots of big turns on the front of the bunch, driving the pace and protecting Froome. Stannard is likely to play an important roles on the cobbles too but with Froome to protect is unlikely to get a chance to bid for stage success on a terrain he has forged a reputation on.