Ben Swift and Tom Pidcock – two of Yorkshire’s highest-profile riders – have been named in the Great Britain Cycling Team who will compete at next week’s Tour de Yorkshire.

Pidcock – who is the son of former Otley race director Giles Pidcock – commonly competes for Team Wiggins, and is considered one of the hottest prospects in the sport.

The 18-year-old from Leeds held National, European and World junior Cyclo-cross titles before winning the junior time trial at the 2017 UCI Road World Championships.

Another success at last year’s junior Paris-Roubaix confirmed his all-round credentials before he turned professional on the road at the start of this year.

Swift usually rides for the UAE Team Emirates squad but will represent his national team in his home race between May 3-6.

The 30-year-old from Rotherham is a former world track champion who has also triumphed at the Tours of California, Romandie and Poland, as well as the Tour Down Under, during his 10 seasons as a pro.

He has not competed in Yorkshire since crashing on the first stage of the 2015 edition and will be making his return to action in this year’s race after suffering a non-displaced fracture of his vertebrae at the prestigious Tour of Flanders earlier this month.

Welcome to Yorkshire Chief Executive Sir Gary Verity is looking forward to seeing the duo on the start line and believes the 2018 Tour de Yorkshire is shaping up to be the biggest and best one yet.

He said: “One of the key principles of the Tour de Yorkshire is that it allows young British talent to compete alongside the best riders in the world. That is no better personified by having Tom and Ben in our race."