Scott Sunderland is hoping the Tour of Qatar will help mould Team Sky into a strong unit for the months ahead.
"As they start to mould themselves into one block the results will come."
Scott Sunderland
The Senior Sports Director is keen for his men to bounce back from the blow of seeing Kurt-Asle Arvesen suffer a broken collarbone on the second stage.
And he feels the rest of the week offers a real opportunity for the seven remaining riders to get used to racing with each other, saying: "Most of these guys haven't raced in the same team before so this is an important week.
"We're faced with difficult conditions - riding in an echelon in crosswinds and at very high speeds - so it's a good training process.
"The main thing now is for the riders to get to know each out on the road. We want them to get used to communicating and working with each other on the bike in different race situations.
"These guys will be riding together quite a bit in the coming months and as they start to mould themselves into one block the results will come.
"They are doing the kilometres in great weather so it's fantastic training and we're only going to get stronger," promised Sunderland.
Team Sky's riders all finished in the main peloton as Belgian sprinter Tom Boonen powered to victory in the third stage at Mesaieed.
They were credited with the same time as the winner and all avoided a crash in the final few hundred metres as the field sprinted for the line.
