Bradley Wiggins will make his debut in Team Sky colours at the Tour of Qatar which gets under way on February 7.

The three-time Olympic gold medalist used the race to kick start a hugely successful 2009 by claiming the leader’s jersey following the 6km team time-trial first stage.

Twelve months on he’ll be part of a strong Team Sky line-up which also features Edvald Boasson Hagen, Juan Antonio Flecha and Kurt-Asle Arvesen.

Fellow Brits Russell Downing, Geraint Thomas and Ian Stannard also feature as does Norway’s Lars-Petter Nordhaug.

Wiggins, a memorable fourth in last year’s Tour de France, had been slated for his debut at Etoile de Bessèges four days earlier but his place there will now be taken by Italian Davide Viganò.