Omega Pharma – Quick Step has officially announced the squad that will take part in the Tour de San Luis, the brief Argentine stage race that will take place from January 20th to the 26th of 2014.
For team OPQS this will be the third time they've participated in a race that has always brought great satisfaction to the team lead by Patrick Lefevere.
"This is a perfect race to start the season," explains Sports Director Davide Bramati. "There is only a four hour time difference, so it won't create any particular problems and it will allow us to get to Argentina just a few days before the race, on January 16th. The race will include a time trial, three arrivals suited to sprinters and three climbing arrivals, one more than last year."
OPQS will be lining up at the starting grid with high caliber athletes like Mark Cavendish, who just last year achieved his first success wearing the OPQS jersey right here, and Tom Boonen, who already won at the Tour de San Luis in his golden year, 2012, and who is looking forward to returning to racing after a long stop period. Next to them we'll have the experience of Alessandro Petacchi, the solidness of Stijn Vandenbergh, and the youth and determination of Guillaume Van Keirsbulck and Gianluca Brambilla.
"We can't deny we have a good team at the starting line," continues Bramati. "Cav, Tom, and Peta together have garnered more than 400 victories in the years of their careers, a truly incredible number that speaks volumes about the potential of the squad. Cav and Tom have also won in this race and they are familiar with its dynamics. In the stage for sprinters we will be called on to take the initiative. During our next retreat (January 6-14, 2014) we're going to work more specifically with this group so we will be ready to take advantage of any chance that presents itself."
OPQS Tour de San Luis Riders
Tom Boonen (Belgium)
Gianluca Brambilla (Italy)
Mark Cavendish (Great Britain)
Alessandro Petacchi (Italy)
Stijn Vandenbergh (Belgium)
Guillaume Van Keirsbulck (Belgium)