Illness appears to be rife within Team Sky. While rides like Kennaugh, Poels and Froome have gotten 2016 off to a flier, Michal Kwiatkowski, Benat Intxausti and Mikel Landa have all been ruled out of either the Ruta del Sol or the Volta ao Algarve through illnesses.

Kwiatkowski’s removal from the Algarve team leaves Sky with just eight riders at the event, where Geraint Thomas is looking to defend his title as the now sole leader of the team there.

The same issue applies with Intxausti at the Ruta del Sol, as he has no replacement. Landa was replaced by Nicolas Roche in the seven man team who are supporting the on-fire Wout Poels.