John-Lee Augustyn is "super-excited" ahead of his first races in Team Sky colours at the GP Cycliste la Marseillaise and Etoile de Bessèges.

The 23-year-old joined the team with a reputation as being one the sport's top young climbers and has certainly looked the part on his pre-season training rides.

Although he has yet to sample either of the two events in the south of France, Augustyn is preparing to give them his all as Team Sky look to make their mark in Europe.

He said: "Everything has been going really well. I only had four days at the training camp in Valencia but I've been riding with the guys around my new base in Quaratta, Italy, learning all the roads and so on.

"Things have been running smoothly and that is a massive help because it means everyone is so motivated. It's awesome.

"These are my first races of the season so I'm going to be racing as hard as I can. I haven't been given a specific role in the team as yet, but I'm guessing it will be helping the other guys out as and when they need it."

Settled in

Augustyn is the only South African on Team Sky's roster this season but has had no problems getting to know his new team-mates.

"Steve (Cummings), Geraint (Thomas) and Chris (Froome) were with me on my former team at Barloworld, and I got to know all the other English guys through them.

"I'd not really spoken to the foreign guys a whole lot but I was familiar with them from past races. They've all been really friendly though and obviously I'll get to know them even better in the weeks to come."

Although Augustyn parted company with Barloworld on good terms, he admits the scale of the operation at Team Sky is far more comprehensive, and is confident he will become a better rider as a result.

"Everything here is so much more smoothly run. Barloworld was a really great team, we had no hiccups there, but you can just see the professionalism and whole approach at Team Sky is on another level.

"Everything is explored down to the smallest detail and that is really helpful. Rod (Ellingworth) has been keeping me busy and I'm happy with the programme he has set me."

The GP Cycliste la Marseillaise is a one-day race which takes part on January 31, while the five-stage Etoile de Bessèges runs February 3-7.