Team Sky bios

Our full rider line-up and mini biographies ahead of the 2012 season.

Davide Appollonio, 22, Italy: The 2011 season saw Davide Appollonio progress by the race to confirm his credentials as one of the fastest men in the peloton, picking up two victories along the way in only his second season in the pro ranks. Michael Barry, 36, Canada: Michael is one of the most experienced and interesting riders in the peloton. As well as being a strong domestique, the Canadian is also an accomplished writer and his third published book Le Metier hit the shelves to widespread acclaim. Edvald Boasson Hagen, 24, Norway: Edvald made a significant mark on the world stage in 2011, claiming seven victories in total which included two at the Tour de France. His ability to win from bunch sprints, breakaways, and time trials have marked him out as one of the most exciting all-rounders in the sport. Mark Cavendish, 26, Great Britain: Mark Cavendish is one of the most famous and successful faces in cycling and is Team Sky's star signing for the 2012 campaign. The 'Manx Missile' enjoyed his most prolific season in 2011, winning both the Tour de France green jersey and world road race title, and has now clocked up no less than 30 Grand Tour stage wins - 20 of them at the Tour de France. Alex Dowsett, 23, Great Britain: Alex enjoyed a fantastic first season as a professional which included stage victories at the Tour du Poitou-Charentes and Tour of Britain. In September he also became the British national time trial champion and notched up three further podium positions in races against the clock. Bernhard Eisel, 30, Austria: Bernhard is one of eight new riders to join Team Sky in 2012 and brings with him a unique blend of experience and Classics prowess, not to mention a legendary sense of humour. The Austrian is also one of Mark Cavendish's most trusted wingmen and will form an integral part of his lead-out train throughout the campaign. Juan Antonio Flecha, 34, Spain: Flecha is rightfully regarded as one of the top Classics riders in the world and last season came within a whisker of defending his Omloop Het Nieuwsblad title. A sixth top-10 finish in seven years at Paris-Roubaix was to follow before the Spaniard chalked up his 15th Grand Tour appearance at the Tour de France. Chris Froome, 26, Great Britain: Arguably the most improved rider in 2011, Froome shot to stardom after his stirring second place finish at the Vuelta a Espana. His tussle with Juan Jose Cobo on stage 17 will go down in history after he snuck through on the final corner to take a monumental victory. Mathew Hayman, 33, Australia: Mathew is a rider who loves the Classics and showed his prowess once again with no less than three top-10 finishes in races over the cobbles. The highlight of his season came at Paris-Bourges though when he outsprinted his breakaway companions to seal a brave and hard-fought victory. Sergio Henao, 24, Colombia: One of the most exciting talents to come out of South America in years, Sergio will embark on his first season as a WorldTour professional with Team Sky and cannot wait to learn the ropes. Hailing from high altitude in Colombia, Henao is already being tipped as a climbing star of the future and will be aiming to mark his arrival in 2012. Jeremy Hunt, 37, Great Britain: After 16 seasons as an elite professional, there can be few riders in the peloton as experienced or as dedicated to the sport as Jeremy Hunt. The two-time British champion is an inspirational presence within the team and leads by example whenever he hits the road. Peter Kennaugh, 22, Great Britain: After a year of learning in his neo-pro season, 2011 saw Peter Kennaugh continue his progression with strong performances throughout the year. The Manxman completed one of the toughest Giro d'Italias in recent history and then claimed a superb third overall at the Route du Sud before another top-five finish at the Tour of Poland. Christian Knees, 30, Germany: Despite his late arrival in 2011, Knees quickly became an indispensible member of the squad and his strong domestique performances earned him a sixth Tour de France ride. His unwavering presence also helped secure victories at Bayern-Rundfahrt, Criterium du Dauphine, Eneco Tour and the Vattenfall Cyclassics. Thomas Löfkvist, 27, Sweden: Thomas is one of Team Sky's most accomplished Grand Tour riders and was on hand at the Vuelta a Espana to help guide team-mates Chris Froome and Bradley Wiggins to podium places. The two-time Swedish national champion will look to begin 2012 with the form that saw him crowned winner of the Strade Bianche in 2009. Lars-Petter Nordhaug, 27, Norway: Lars-Petter Nordhaug is one of the hardest-working riders on the Team Sky roster and will play an important role again in 2012. The former Norwegian champion earned himself three top-10 placings in 2011 whilst also helping Davide Appollonio and Alex Dowsett to stage victories at the Tour du Poitou-Charentes. Danny Pate, 32, USA: Danny Pate is one of four riders to have been signed from HTC-Highroad this season and is widely considered as one of the hardest-working domestiques in the peloton. The American helped Mark Cavendish become the first British rider to win the green jersey at last year's Tour de France, and will be aiming to do so again in 2012. Richie Porte, 26, Australia: Richie Porte has enjoyed a meteoric rise since taking up the sport competitively in 2006 and will be looking to go from strength to strength after signing for Team Sky. In 2010 he held the Maglia Rosa and won the young riders' classification at the Giro d'Italia, and topped the podium again in 2011 on the fifth stage of the Tour of Denmark. Salvatore Puccio, 22, Italy: Puccio joins Luke Rowe as one of two neo-pros on the Team Sky roster for 2012 and is already being marked out as a Classics star of the future after his fine solo victory in the under-23 Tour of Flanders last season. His Toscana-Coppa delle Nazioni stage win also hinted at a plucky and determined attacker. Michael Rogers, 32, Australia: With nine Grand Tours appearances and three World Time Trial Championship titles in the bag, Michael Rogers deserves his status as one of the most successful and well-respected riders in the peloton and will be one of Team Sky's strongest stage-race prospects again in 2012 after last season was affected by illness. Luke Rowe, 21, Great Britain: Luke will make his step up to the professional ranks after impressing during his time on the British Cycling Academy. The Welshman demonstrated his talent by claiming his second ZLM Tour title in three years last season and also romped to victory at the under-23 Thuringen-Rundfahrt. Kanstantsin Siutsou, 29, Belarus: Kanstantsin Siutsou is regarded as one of the sport's most talented all-rounders and burst onto the scene with a triumphant solo attack on the eighth stage of the 2009 Giro d'Italia. The reigning Belarussin time trial champion excelled again at a tough 2011 Giro and six top-10 placings helped him achieve 10th position overall. Ian Stannard, 24, Great Britain: Ian Stannard is one of Team Sky's most versatile riders and achieved a career milestone last season when he powered to his first professional victory on stage five of the Tour of Austria. The Spring Classics remain his passion though and it is here where he will be aiming to make his biggest impact in the future. Chris Sutton, 27, Australia: Chris Sutton has consistently proved himself as one of Team Sky's fastest finishers and has notched up five victories since joined the team in 2010. The highest-profile of those was his stage-winning success on day two of the 2011 Vuelta a Espana, but his triumph at Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne also highlighted a tough and versatile sprinter. Ben Swift, 24, Great Britain: In 2011 Ben Swift cemented his reputation as one of cycling's best young sprinters by taking five stage victories in a fantastic second season for Team Sky. Those performances earned him his first ride at the Tour de France and also saw him complete a sweep of participating in all three Grand Tours. Geraint Thomas, 25, Great Britain: Geraint Thomas continued his remarkable upward progression in 2011 and is now regarded as one of the most versatile and well-rounded riders in the sport. His overall victory at Bayern-Rundfahrt followed a solid Classics campaign, and before the season was out he had also enjoyed six days in the white jersey at the Tour de France, taking his total tally to 10. Rigoberto Urán, 24, Colombia: Rigoberto Urán can now rightfully be regarded as one of the world's best young riders after a fine first season with Team Sky. The Colombian claimed 11 top-five finishes throughout his campaign and a superb climbing display on stage 14 of the Tour de France saw him move top of the young riders' classification and hang on to the white jersey for four further stages. Bradley Wiggins, 31, Great Britain: Bradley Wiggins is undoubtedly one of the most famous and charismatic cyclists in the world and will be leading Team Sky's Tour de France hopes again in 2012 after his best year to date on the road which included the overall victory at the Criterium du Dauphine and third place behind team-mate Chris Froome at the Vuelta a Espana. Xabier Zandio, 34, Spain: Xabier Zandio is one of the most respected climbing domestiques in the peloton and proved a huge hit during his first season with Team Sky. Strong showings in races like Paris-Nice and the Criterium du Dauphine earned him his sixth appearance at the Tour de France, and once that was over the Spainard pressed on and notched up his 11th Grand Tour ride at the Vuelta a Espana.