Fernando Gaviria will race for the first time in his career in the United States.
In ten previous participations at the Tour of California, our team has won the general classification on one occasion, two other distinctive jerseys and a staggering 11 stages, results which make Quick-Step Floors one of the most successful squads in the history of the event. World Tour leader after a superb spring, which included victories at De Ronde van Vlaanderen and Liège–Bastogne–Liège, our team will go to the United States with the goal of being again among the major players.
Fernando Gaviria – winner of four races this season – will make his Tour of California debut, and will be backed by a strong Quick-Step Floors team which will consist of neo-pros Kasper Asgreen, Alvaro Hodeg and Jhonatan Narvaez, Laurens De Plus, Iljo Keisse and Maximiliano Richeze, one of the most respected lead-out men in the peloton.
During the seven-day race which starts from Long Beach and ends in Sacramento there will be chances for sprinters and puncheurs, but the yellow jersey will once again be decided on two key stages: the one taking the peloton on Gibraltar Road, a 6km-long climb averaging 10% where Julian Alaphilippe surged to victory in 2016 when he conquered the overall, and the 37.4km individual time trial from San Jose to Morgan Hill.
"The Tour of California is one of the best races of the season, one where we have always felt good and enjoyed many beautiful moments. The course will take us through many parts we already know and, as you could see, it's a hard one with many challenges, but the team – despite being young – is up for the challenge and we are confident we can leave from here with some good results in the bag", said sports director Brian Holm ahead of the 22nd World Tour event of the season.
Photo credit: ©Tim De Waele/ Getty Images
