Team Sky Procycling today revealed the team's roster for the first Grand Tour of the 2012 season - the Giro d'Italia which begins in eastern Denmark next Saturday May 5. The Sky team will be headed by World Champion Mark Cavendish who has had a disappointing season so far.

It is the fourth time Cavendish takes part in the Giro d'Italia and some analysts view Cavendish's participation in this year's Giro as an attempt by the Sky team's management to ensure they get the World Champion into good lean shape before the start of this year's Tour de France.

Commenting on his expectations for the Giro d'Italia, Cavendish said "The Giro is one of my favorite races of the season and I'm very happy to be riding it. We've got a good squad to go and win stages. Geraint, Pete and Swifty have just come off the track so they should have that explosive power which will be important in the first week, and the rest of the team have all done well in the Classics. We want to win the team time trial as well and hopefully that will get us the pink jersey."

In addition to Cavendish, team Sky also sends experienced riders Juan Antonio Flecha of Spain and Austrian Bernhard Eisel who have both shown great performances in this year's Spring Classics. Both riders will be able to draw on their vast racing experience when there's a need to control the race and ensure the team as much success as it is having in the Tour de Romandie at the moment. Classics rider Ian Stannard of Great Britain has also been picked for Giro participation this year.

Sky has made the two young Colombian riders Rigoberto Uran and Sergio Henao part of its Giro d'Italia line-up and hopes they will be able to take advantage of their great climbing potential once the Giro reaches the steep Italian mountains.

The Sky team sends three track riders to the Giro. Geraint Thomas won the Tour de Romandie prologue earlier this month and Ben Swift and Peter Kennaugh both brought home Gold medals in the World Track Cycling Championships this year. In addition to doing their best in the prologue and time trials, these riders will work hard to set the pace for Cavendish in the sprint finishes and will also spend a lot of time at the front of the peloton working to reel breakaway groups back in.

"I'm really looking forward to the Giro, especially as I haven't ridden a great deal on the road this season. I took part in the race once before in 2008 and found it to be a lot less stressful than the Tour de France. The atmosphere is fantastic and Italy is a special country to ride in. Starting in Denmark should also be interesting and I will be motivated to ride a good prologue," Thomas commented.

Commenting on the Giro's start in Herning and Horsens, Denmark Ben Swift said "It's going to be a great experience starting in Denmark and there should be plenty of chances for Team Sky to show what we can do."

Team Sky sports director Steven de Jongh is satisfied with the team's roster for the Giro d'Italia and has high expectations for his riders. "We have a very strong Giro squad, which we feel can be competitive on several fronts. In Mark Cavendish we have the fastest sprinter in the world and he will be looking to get some stage wins under his belt as quickly as possible. The team time trial is another big target of ours and we'll definitely be looking to show what we can do there as well."

The team is known for its great performances in sprints and time trials, but when asked about the team's chances in the mountainous stages de Jongh said. "Once the race hits the mountains Rigoberto and Sergio will become our focus and if Rigo can continue the good form he showed over the spring then he is more than capable of achieving a high placing in the General Classification."

Team Sky Roster for the 2012 Giro d'Italia:
Mark Cavendish, Bernhard Eisel, Juan Antonio Flecha, Sergio Henao, Peter Kennaugh, Ian Stannard, Jeremy Hunt (replaces Ben Swift who fractured his shoulder), Geraint Thomas and Rigoberto Urán.

Stay tuned to us here at Roadcycling.com to watch video highlights from all stages of the 2012 Giro d'Italia in our video section (US only). Come back for our complete Giro d'Italia coverage and spread the word to your friends.