My name is Elin - A pro cycling lover's reflections

The pro season will soon begin with the Tour Down Under, or soon? Well, it's more than a week left before the start. But the teams have started to announce which riders they'll send to Australia this year.

Team Sky has decided to send Welshman Geraint Thomas and Colombian Sergio Henao as the leaders of the team.

Joining them will be Henao’s cousin Sebastian, as well as Luke Rowe, Ian Stannard, Owain Doull and Danny van Poppel.

Geraint Thomas has raced in the Tour Down Under every year since 2011. He won a stage and went on to finish third in the overall classification in 2013. Later in his career, he has not been as strong in the early seasons as he has looked to peak later in the season.

Sergio Henao seems likely to be the team’s leading general classification contender after finishing third in last year’s race. Last year he also finished second to Richie Porte on the stage to Willunga Hill. Henao also came away with the King of the Mountains jersey.

This year, the our Down Under takes place in and around Adelaide, over January 17-22.