Team Sky's other Sports Directors were former professional cyclists Marcus Ljungqvist from Sweden, the Briton Sean Yates, and Steven de Jongh from the Netherlands.

Henderson was the team's captain for the Cancer Council Helpline Classic, a 51 km (32 mi) criterium run two days before the Tour Down Under with the same peloton, but not counting toward its standings.

Team Sky was largely responsible for bringing back a breakaway that included Lance Armstrong and Óscar Pereiro, with Downing and Sutton leading Henderson out to the sprint win.

In the British National Time Trial Championships again claimed the top three with Bradley Wiggins retaining his title.

Later, Cervélo TestTeam attacked 56 km (35 mi) from the end of the stage, while Boasson Hagen had stopped to urinate at the side of the road, also something which is normally not done.

John Lee Augustyn, Juan Antonio Flecha, and Ben Swift were forced to retire from the race due to illness.

[13] Soigneur Txema Gonzalez died five days after being admitted to hospital due to an unrelated bacterial infection, with the team withdrawing from the race before the start of stage eight.