Dario Cioni is one of the most experienced members of Team Sky. "You mean old?" he asks when that is put to him. But it is more than that - the British-born Italian is 35, yes, but he also has no fewer than 16 Grand Tours in his legs, a record of which he is understandably proud.

"I've done four Tours de France, seven Giros and five Vueltas," says Cioni. "I only stopped on one occasion - it was the second to last stage of the Giro, and I had to wait for [Alessandro] Petacchi. He had been drooped, he was hurting bad, and we rode together for more than half the stage. I couldn't leave him, because he was in the [sprinters'] jersey. We didn't make the time cut so we were eliminated."

Cioni, a strong climber, has some outstanding results on his palmarès - fourth overall in the 2004 Giro being the highlight. "I've had some good results myself, but I have always done better working for other people, and I prefer that," he says. "That will be my role with Team Sky, and maybe I can help the younger riders, too."

Cioni's mother is British, and he was born in Reading, though he has always lived in Italy. He says that the proudest member of his family is his 90-year old grandmother, who lives near Poole. "She kept asking me if I was joining Team Sky," says Cioni, "and when I signed she was the first person I called. I think she is the happiest person in my family. My grandpa, who died a couple of years ago, would have been happy too.

"I don't know how long I will ride for," continues the former mountain biker. "The important thing is that I am motivated and excited, so it might be for one, two or three years. To see this team, and the structure of it, I just keep asking myself, why didn't it happen when I was young? I have told the young riders to make the most of the opportunity."