Lacking a big sprinter since Mark Cavendish’s departure in 2012, Team Sky’s success was always going to be limited in the early part of the season. But where they have had the chance to shine, they have seized the initiative – not least with Chris Froome’s win in Oman.

Bradley Wiggins cited a lack of desire as one of the causes behind his below-par 2013, but his successor as Tour de France champion is showing no signs of suffering from the same lack of motivation. Determined that victory in Oman would prove his success in 2013 was no fluke, Froome stormed to success with a stunning acceleration 2km from the summit of Green Mountain. His desire to not just match, but better his achievements of last year was never more obvious than in the attacks he instigated on stages three and four.

His chief lieutenant last year, Richie Porte, has also been in good form – taking the prestigious queen stage victory at the Tour Down Under on Old Willunga Hill, even if he is yet to seal an overall victory. In the Ruta del Sol, too, the Australian was consistent if not spectacular as he builds towards May’s Giro d’Italia.

With Bradley Wiggins among the Sky riders to show form in the prologue of the Ruta del Sol, Ben Swift twice on the podium at Challenge Mallorca, and Edvald Boasson Hagen also earning a third place in the Balearics, the British team are coming into form nicely. Bernie Eisel too ensured he tested his legs by contesting a few sprints in Qatar and they may well prove to be dark horses when it comes to the Classics – an area of performance in which success has been notably absent.