Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team has announced the selection that will take part in the 3,405km, 21-stage Giro d'Italia from May 4th until May 26th. OPQS goes into the first grand tour of 2013 with sprinter Mark Cavendish, which gives OPQS the objective of a victory in any stage that may feature a bunch sprint finale.
"We start with a very good team built around Mark Cavendish," Sport Director Davide Bramati said. "The presence of a pure sprinter such as Mark will change our approach to the race if we compare it with our last participations. In any stage where we have a possibility, we have to try to do our best to go for the win. I think an immediate important moment will be the first stage in Napoli. Everyone wants to fight for the first Pink Jersey. The competition is fierce, but we can count on a good group. We believe in our team and we will be there to try to fight and win."
“Beside Mark, we go into the race with experienced guys such as Golas and Pineau who have experience going for the stage victories at the Giro,” Bramati said. “We also count on young Julien Vermote in his second participation in the Giro. Then we have Steegmans, Keisse, and Trentin ready to show themselves in the sprint train of Mark. Trentin is also Italian and wants to show his skills after an injury to his scaphoid due to bad luck earlier this year. We go into this race with a good group that will do their best for all possibilities in all stages.”
The 2013 Giro d'Italia features a Stage 2 TTT, and two ITTs (Stage 8, 18) — one of which is uphill. There are also five high mountain stages: Stages 10, 14, 15, 19, and 20.
"For the mountains we can count on Serge Pauwels and Gianluca Brambilla," Bramati continued. "Brambilla is a young guy in his first year with us. He passed through Tour de Romandie in preparation for this race. We will do our best and see how it is with these riders after 10 days. We have a good group of fighters prepared to do their jobs 100 percent. The motivation, commitment, and condition of the guys going into the Giro is good.”