T-Mobile's Mark Cavendish returns to action alongside young Brit Ian Stannard

The post-Tour de France season begins for Germany-based team T-Mobile on Wednesday at the Tour of Denmark, where British rider Mark Cavendish will head the magenta squad at the five-day event (August 1 – 5). The 21 year-old will start alongside Great Britain teammate Ian Stannard who will race as a stagiaire.

Cavendish, in his first race back since ending his Tour de France adventure in the Alps, will be expected to make his top-end speed count in the sprints. "Mark gained valuable experience with the T-Mobile Team in France, and he is as enthusiastic as ever," commented Directeur Sportif Rolf Aldag. "I expect him to be in the mix in the sprint showdowns that should conclude many of the six stages."

Cavendish can count on the support of lead-out man Greg Henderson in the sprint finales and his team-mates Lorenzo Bernucci and Marco Pinotti will be hoping to get into the decisive breaks early on in the race. The T-Mobile Team is also hoping to see 20 year-old Brit Ian Stannard make his mark. Stannard, a sprinter who was part of the T-Mobile Development Programme with Cavendish in 2005 and 2006, will now get his chance to make the step up to the professional grade.

"It's a big test for Ian, and I am looking forward to seeing how he fares against this competition," said Aldag.

Rounding out the eight-man roster in Denmark are Servais Knaven, Aaron Olson and Frantisek Rabon.