Kennaugh excited to show off British jersey at Tour de Yorkshire

The three-day race, which was established last year as a legacy of when Yorkshire held the Grand Depart of the 2014 Tour de France, starts on Friday in Beverley, before passing through many of the county's cities en route to the finish in Scarborough on Sunday.

The Team Sky rider won his second successive national title in 2015 to become the first man to defend the jersey in ten years.

And for the reigning team pursuit Olympic champion, excitement is building as Yorkshire's tricky landscape awaits.

"It's not often I get a chance to show off the jersey on home roads, so I'll feel proud," he told BBC Radio York.

"I did a race near my home on the Isle of Man recently and it was great.

"My teammate Ben Swift, who is from Yorkshire and knows the roads but is not riding in the race, has been giving me pointers.

"The roads sound similar to what I'm used to on the Isle of Man, lots of ups and downs and small twisty lanes.

"For any rider targeting the overall win, the plan will be to stay out of trouble and not lose any time on the first two stages, which are likely to end in bunch sprint finishes, because stage three with all the categorised climbs will decide the overall winner."

This weekend's race has been one Kennaugh has been targeting all season, but after his preparations were hit by illness, he admits his focus has changed.

"I have struggled through April and I'm just getting over the illness and back in the swing of things now so I'll be there to support whichever Team Sky riders need my help during the race.

"On a personal level getting through the race will be good for me but as a team we are going for the overall victory and a stage win would be a bonus.

"My team-mate Lars Petter Nordhaug is the defending champion and he should be up there again."

Sportsbeat 2016