Edvald Boasson Hagen makes his debut in Team Sky colours this weekend and he can't wait to get started at the Tour of Qatar.

While other riders have had to battle snow and ice to keep their training on track, the Norwegian star says he has relished the icy conditions which have prevailed across northern Europe.

Speaking to TeamSky.com he said: "I've been doing plenty of good training - all sorts of different things - and am feeling in good shape.

"It's included a lot of cross-country skiing and we've also had a few five-hour cyclo-cross rides [the picture at the top of this article shows the bikes Edvald and Lars-Petter Nordhaug used].

"We've been able to get plenty of kilometres in but it will still be nice to see the sun again in Qatar! I handle big temperature changes pretty well so that shouldn't be a concern."

Team bonding

Boasson Hagen was briefly reacquainted with warm weather when he headed to Valencia in January for Team Sky's first proper training camp and it was an experience he thoroughly enjoyed on several levels.

"The training was good in Valencia and it was nice to be back on a road bike," he explained. "It was also important to ride with my new teammates and I got to know everyone a lot better.

"It's a good team and a really good group so I think it's going to be a big year for all of us, with hopefully plenty of success coming our way."

Fast start

It all gets under way on Sunday for Boasson Hagen and he's expecting his new team to make a fast start in the team time trial which opens the Tour of Qatar.

"It's a strong team and I'm really looking forward to Qatar," he told us. "I think we can achieve some good results, including the team time trial. It's going to be interesting to see how we go in that.

"With the likes of Bradley Wiggins, Geraint Thomas, Ian Stannard and all the others on the team it's going to be fast and we must have a good chance."

Following a stellar 2009, Boasson Hagen has been identified by many as one of the favourites for the Tour of Qatar but he's just taking things one step at a time.

"It's the first race of the season and while everyone wants to be at their best it's hard to know exactly what form you are in," he explained.

"I hope it's good and want to get some good results but the main thing is the team as a whole do well and keep out of trouble."

Spring in his step

Boasson Hagen stays in the Gulf after the Tour of Qatar as he heads for the inaugural Tour of Oman and the two races will propel him towards the early spring classics.

"I'm really looking forward to the first spring classics over the cobblestones, they are races I really like and we'll have a strong team," confirmed the winner of Ghent-Wevelgem in 2009.

The full Team Sky squad for Qatar is as follows: Kurt-Asle Arvesen, Edvald Boasson Hagen, Russell Downing, Juan Antonio Flecha, Lars-Petter Nordhaug, Ian Stannard, Geraint Thomas and Bradley Wiggins.

We'll have detailed coverage on the website every day, including photo galleries and video interviews with the riders and Team Sky staff.