Nicolas Portal achieved a major win in 2004 when he raced to a solo victory at the end of stage two of the Dauphine Libere, one of France's major stage races and an important pre-Tour de France warm-up event.

Since then, though, the Frenchman has established himself as a dependable and strong team-mate, spending the last four seasons with Spanish squad Caisse d'Epargne. The 30-year old has started and finished six Tours de France, and he says he is looking forward to "a new cultural experience" with Team Sky.

"I like being in a foreign team," he says, "because it gives me a big opportunity to work on a different team, with difference people. I like having a different cultural experience. There's nothing wrong with French teams, but it's nice."

Portal describes Team Sky as "un projet extraordinaire!" - which doesn't really need to be translated, but suffice to say that he is glad to be part of it. He is also extra motivated for the 2010 season after a health scare saw him sidelined for part of the 2009 season. "I had a problem with my heart which necessitated a rest," he says. "But I passed all the tests, and they proved that everything was normal and I was cleared to start training and racing again. Now I am very motivated and enthusiastic. I feel like a new professional."

Portal, who lives in Pau, near the Pyrenees, describes himself as a "good climber, not a pure climber, and a good rouleur and time triallist," and he is looking forward to Paris-Roubaix and the Dauphine-Libere. If he proves himself in the early part of the season he would also love to ride a seventh Tour de France.

"Already I like the ambience on this team," he says. "I have lots of friends who are Australian and British. I like the Anglo-Saxon mentality and I'm looking forward to being part of this exciting project."