Tony Martin, who wore the yellow jersey before crashing out of last year’s race, will be key part of the team’s engine room alongside Belgians Julien Vermote and Tour debutant Iljo Keisse.

Tour de Suisse stage winner Maximiliano Richeze joins Sabatini in Kittel’s sprint train, meanwhile.

“The team is built around Marcel, and that comes as no surprise, because when you have a guy capable of winning stages in Grand Tours, it’s normal to do this,” Lefevere said.

“Tony will also be there, bringing his huge experience and knowledge; in the past weeks, he worked hard to be in top shape for this race and can make something great again, while at the same time being a valuable rider for the strategy we built around Kittel, together with Fabio, Max and Julien, all experienced riders who can support the team in the crucial moments.”

The team is completed by 23-year-old Petr Vakoc, another Tour debutant, but the Czech rider will not be joined by countryman and 2015 stage winner Zdenek Stybar, who is not selected.

In fact, only Tony Martin and Vermote remain from Etixx-QuickStep’s 2015 line-up but Lefevere is confident the team’s versatility will pay off.

He concluded: “Bottom line, we are ready for the Tour de France, we are ready for the three intense weeks that lie ahead and we are ready to fight every day and adapt to any kind of scenario, as we have already showed we can do in the past.”

Etixx-QuickStep for the 2016 Tour de France

Marcel Kittel (GER)
Julian Alaphilippe (FRA)
Tony Martin (GER)
Daniel Martin (IRL)
Julien Vermote (BEL)
Petr Vakoc (CZE)
Fabio Sabatini (ITA)
Maximiliano Richeze (ARG)
Iljo Keisse (BEL)