Team Sky head into Spain between February 21-25 for the affectionately-titled Ruta del Sol, or Tour of the Sun.

Now on its 56th edition, this five-stage race remains a major fixture on the early-season calendar and always draws a strong field as the riders aim to step up their form in preparation for the spring classics.

Kjell Carlström, Simon Gerrans, Thomas Lofkvist and Serge Pauwels will all be making their Team Sky debuts and they will be ably supported by Steve Cummings, Greg Henderson and Bradley Wiggins.

Here we take a look at the highlights of the 676.2km route as it winds its way around the Mediterranean coast.

Sunday 21 February: Stage 1 - Jaén to La Guardia - 159.2km

There are no real problems facing the riders as they ease themselves into the race, although the first climb of the tour comes 34.9km north west of Jaén on the Alto de Arjona. Rated as a category 3 and rising to 440m, it will certainly test the muscles before the opening sprint section in Ajonilla (41.3km). The route continues over mildly-undulating terrain before rising again on the Alto de Ajonilla (category 3 at 91.6km). The stage fits in one more sprint section back in Jaén (142.8km) before a fiendish finish almost 1000m up at the top of the Alto de la Guardia.

Monday 22 February: Stage 2 - Otura to Córdoba - 182.2km

The route gently descends out of Otura with two sprint sections coming thick and fast at Vegas del Genil (14.4km) and Atarfe (29.8km). Once those are out of the way it's onwards and upwards for the only climb of the day on the Alto de Puerto Lope (category 3 at 44.6km), which rises to 833m. A few minor peaks are to follow over the next 40km before the road drops steadily back down towards sea level for a likely sprint finish in Córdoba.

Tuesday 23 February: Stage 3 - Marbella to Benahavis - 162.5km

The coastal resort of Marbella has been chosen to see off stage three but the riders will have little time to enjoy the scenery as they are faced with two climbs inside the opening 11km. The Alto de las Nieves (category 3 at 4.1km) rises to 390m and is quickly followed by the first of three category 2 ascents on the Puerto de Ojén - which peaks at 595m (10.8km). After dropping back down it's plain sailing until the 61.3km stage where the road ramps up to 610m on the Puerto del Agua (category 2). The climbers will have to keep their wits about them as the Puerto de las Abejas (category 3 at 84.4km) comes along at the halfway point of the race, and the Puerto de Ojén has to be tackled again at 128.4km. The route loops back around into Marbella for the first sprint section (142.9km) and the organisers have made more time bonuses on offer in San Pedro de Avituallamiento (151.4km) before a moderately uphill finish in Benahavis.

Wednesday 24 February: Stage 4 - Málaga to Málaga - 10.9km

Stage four is an individual time trial which starts and finishes at the Palacio de Deportes Martin Carpena in the centre of Málaga. The 10.9km course is pan-flat and joins the coast road before heading east towards a roundabout which intersects the Avenue Manuel Agustin Heredia and Calle Princesa. Once there, the riders do an about-turn and cut back on themselves all the way back to where they started from.

Thursday 25 February: Stage 5 - Torrox Costa to Antequera - 161.4km

The tour culminates with another undulating stage encompassing two climbs in the opening 22km. The first one rises 653m on the Puerto de Competa (category 2 at 12.7km) and is quickly followed by the 644m peak of Puerto de Salares (category 3 at 22.1km). After a few more bumps the road drops into Benamargosa for the penultimate sprint section (59.4km) before ascending again up the 685m Alto de Colmenar (category 3 at 83.7km). The race organisers have saved the biggest test until last however with the 944m, category 1 Puerto del Torcal looming large at the 115.3km point. Once the riders make it over that there is one more sprint section at Antequera to mop up the remaining points before looping around the town centre for the finish.