Cannodale duo Moreno Moser and Peter Sagan stormed to a one-two in last year’s race, with the former escaping from the reduced bunch late in the stage to seal victory.

With Moser up the road, Sagan did a sterling job of controlling the bunch and countering any attempt at an attack made by Fabian Cancellara, and his efforts were rewarded when he was able to take second place himself.

This time out, the two will lead the way again with both capable of making it two Cannondale victories in a row.

Moser’s season to date has been unspectacular, with appearances at the Tour de San Luis and Tour of Oman in service of Sagan his two outings so far. The Slovakian, meanwhile, has been in winning form having claimed a tough undulating stage in Oman, while also recording second place finishes at the Dubai Tour and Tour de San Luis.

Sagan appears perfectly suited to this sort of course, with the short, sharp climbs no match for him and his technical ability unquestioned, but as Moser proved last year, he is not the only Cannondale man capable of turning it on in this race.