Ian Stannard is one of Team Sky’s most versatile riders and achieved a career milestone last season when he powered to his first professional victory.

The Chelmsford-born rider worked his way into a five-man break on a lumpy fifth stage of the Tour of Austria and then outsprinted his accomplices before raising his arms in celebration.

Looking back on that success he remembers: “It was a pretty strong group and even though the peloton didn’t let us get too far ahead, we all committed and I was able to play it cool before opening up for the victory.

“It was nice to finally get one and hopefully it will give me a bit more confidence going forward.”

That result helped Stannard earn his place at the Vuelta a Espana, where he worked tirelessly to help Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome seal top-three spots in the general classification.

And just two weeks after completing his first Grand Tour, Stannard produced another storming domestique display as Mark Cavendish became the first British rider in 46 years to win the World Championship road race title.

“Both those races were amazing to be part of,” he adds. “The Vuelta was pretty hard but it was great seeing Brad and Froomey on the podium. At the Worlds, the way we dominated the race was just phenomenal too. For Cav to finish it like he did was amazing and it’s fantastic that he’ll be riding for Team Sky this year.”

Stannard wrapped up last season with a top-five finish at Paris-Tours and hopes that fine latter-season form will stand him in good for 2012:

“Since the Vuelta I feel like I’ve made a step up and I hope I can carry on improving this season. The whole team has matured actually. Everyone gets on really well and hopefully that’ll mean the results keep on coming.”

And while Stannard is happy to do whatever jobs are asked of him, the Spring Classics remain his passion and it is here where he will be aiming to make his biggest impact:

"It’s definitely those races where I want to specialise," he continues. "When I was a kid I loved the pictures in the magazines of those races, when you can't make out the riders' kit, and when they take their glasses off it's like they've been wearing goggles, and everyone's crashed about ten times. That really appeals to me. To win in that weather you'd have to be a pretty hard man."