What to expect this year
The green machine finished last year ninth in the UCI WorldTour team rankings, thanks in no small part to Peter Sagan’s phenomenal year – and the Slovak star is set to lead their charge again this year. The back-to-back Tour de France green jersey winner is bidding for a third consecutive year atop the points classification this year, and he has also ambitiously targeted a clean sweep of the cobbled Classics, having announced his return to Paris-Roubaix. The Hell of the North has proved a challenge too far for him in recent years, but after wheelie-ing to success at Gent-Wevelgem and finishing runner-up to Fabian Cancellara at the Ronde and E3-Harelbeke, he is more than capable of spoiling Spartacus and Tom Boonen’s expected party.
Elsewhere, Cannondale are built for their sprinters – with Elia Viviani also starring in 2013, giving Mark Cavendish a fair run for his money at the Giro d’Italia and Tour of Britain. The Manx Missile came out on top at both, but Viviani proved he remains a legitimate contender to the sprint king. Veteran Italian Ivan Basso meanwhile has seen his star fall in recent years, with the two-time Giro d’Italia champion enduring a frustrating 2013 but the 36-year-old is targeting both the Giro and Vuelta this season. At the other end of the age scale, 23-year-old Moreno Moser proved his ability with Strade Bianche victory last year, before finishing third on Alpe d’Huez at the Tour de France. The Ardennes Classics are his chief aim in 2014, although he must improve dramatically on his 2013 results if he is to contend for honours there.
Who’s new for 2014?
Matej Mohoric (SVN) from Sava, George Bennett (NZL) from RadioShack-Leopard, Oscar Gatto (ITA) from Vini Fantini, Marco Marcato (ITA) from Vacansoleil-DCM, Jean-Marc Marino (FRA) from Sojasun, Davide Formolo, Davide Villella, Alberto Bettiol (all ITA) neo-pros
Who has left?
Nariyuki Masuda (JAP) to Utsunomiya-Blitzen, Macej Paterski (POL) to CCC Polsat-Polkowice, Brian Vandborg (DEN) retired, Lucas Sebastian (ARG) to Skydive Dubai, Maura da Dalto, Tiziano Dall’Antonia, Frederico Canuti (all ITA) released
Riders to watch
Peter Sagan – Sagan is more than capable of edging out Tom Boonen and Fabian Cancellara in the spring, before his green jersey bid at the Tour
Elia Viviani – Proved he is capable as a sprinter, stage wins at the Giro are certainly not beyond him, particularly if Cavendish does not compete
Ivan Basso – After a disappointing 2013, his bids for the Giro and Vuelta could be his last realistic shot at more major glory
