It's worth raising a Dry Martini to Team Sky - presently the riders, management and staff of whom are planning their first season together, from a secret location in Manchester, no doubt beneath an extinct volcano (or inside one of those Sky TV vans sporting Simpsons livery).
Yesterday they were awarded a four-year ProTour licence. And along with fellow Pro team rookies Radio Shack, will form part of a 17-team strong racing riot for 2010, and onwards:Astana (KAZ) on the condition they produce of a bank guarantee
Caisse d'Epargne (ESP)
Euskaltel-Euskadi (ESP)
Footon-Servetto (ESP)
Française des Jeux (FRA)
Liquigas-Doimo (ITA)
Team Columbia-HTC (USA)
Team Milram (GER)
Omega Pharma-Lotto (BEL)
Quick Step (BEL)
Saxo Bank (DEN)
Team Katusha (RUS)
AG2R La Mondaile (FRA)
Garmin-Slipstream (USA)
Rabobank (NED)
Team Radio Shack (USA)
Team Sky (GBR)
Putting aside the rather tedious will-he-won't-he scenarios enshrouding certain highly-fancied Tour riders, next year's season is shaping up to be rather tasty. And although our beloved M stands for Murdoch, there is still a frisson of pride in seeing GBR in there. Let's hope we'll be both shaken, and stirred by the business end of road racing.
