Team Giant-Shimano will no doubt be the centre of attention throughout this year’s race, with China’s first ever Tour de France rider Cheng Ji in their line-up.
And Ji forms part of a strong support unit for rising star Warren Barguil, with Albert Timmer and Georg Preidler also among the supporting cast.
Barguil finished eighth at the Vuelta a Espana, continue to show the glimpses of talent he portrayed in winning two stages in the race last year.
Still only 22, the Frenchman will be keen to sign off another encouraging season with a big result and certainly has the ability to do exactly that.
Eighth at Lake Covadonga and sixth on the Puerto de Ancares, Barguil has proved he can climb with the best even if he is not quite of the level of say a Froome or Contador yet.
Beijing, however, is a big opportunity for riders in Barguil’s mould to prove themselves on the WorldTour stage. Watch this space.
