Cycling: Mark Cavendish heads Team Sky squad

Green machine: Mark Cavendish (Getty Images)

Tour de France green jersey winner Mark Cavendish heads a 10-strong British contingent in the Team Sky squad for 2012.

The Manxman, who won five stages on last year's Tour, has been recruited from HTC-Highroad along with Bernhard Eisel, Danny Pate and Kanstantsin Siutsou, four of eight new additions in the 28-man roster.

Criterium du Dauphine winner and three-time Olympic goal-medallist Bradley Wiggins, Chris Froome - who finished second, one place ahead of Wiggins, in last year's Vuelta a Espana - Geraint Thomas, Jeremy Hunt, Peter Kennaugh, Alex Dowsett, Luke Rowe, Ian Stannard and Ben Swift complete the British contingent.

Team principal Dave Brailsford said: "With Mark Cavendish joining riders like Bradley Wiggins, Geraint Thomas and Edvald Boasson Hagen, we have a hugely talented squad of riders with proven ability at the very highest level of our sport."

Cavendish added: "I could not be more excited about the coming season. In many ways it has felt like coming home, by joining Team Sky. I've grown up with many of the riders and management and they have shown in just two years how far they have come."

PA