Dylan van Baarle (Cannondale-Garmin)
Dylan van Baarle (Cannondale-Garmin)
As defending champion, Dylan van Baarle will roll out with the number one on his back and with a much bigger reputation than when he started last year’s race.
Still just 23, the Dutchman – formerly a part of Rabobank’s development team – highlighted the unpredictable nature of the race last year when he snatched the leader’s jersey after a day in the break on stage seven.
Having been knocking on the door of the top-ten after a solid showing on The Tumble, the 57 seconds he put into the likes of Michal Kwiatkowski and Sir Bradley Wiggins proved sufficient to claim the race lead and protect it in London on the final day.
Can he repeat the feat? Van Baarle can’t expect the same leeway to attack this time out, but defending a title can bring about an extra level of grit and drive in a rider – much will depend on how he fares on the summit finish of Hartside Fell, but don’t rule out another Van Baarle victory.