What to expect this year from OPQS
Quite simply you should expect plenty of Omega Pharma-Quickstep victories in 2014. The Belgian super team, which was introduced to fans at the Eddie Merckx Velodrome last weekend, finished last year with 53 victories, led by sprint king Mark Cavendish. In all, the Manx Missile won 19 races – including five stages of the Giro d’Italia on his way to the red jersey and four in succession at the Tour of Qatar to win overall too. Now, reunited with former lead-out man Mark Renshaw, Cav is back for more – with a yellow jersey on the first stage of the Tour de France his primary aim.
Heavy investment in the winter means the team are also well-set to challenge for GC honours, with 2013 Giro d’Italia runner-up Rigoberto Uran, who has joined from Sky, set to lead the way at the Italian national tour. Rising Polish star Michal Kwiatkowski – 11th at the Tour last year, and fourth at Tirreno-Adriatico, is another GC contender. Tom Boonen’s return to fitness will likely see him pushing Fabian Cancellara (Trek Factory Racing) for honours in the cobbled Classics, while three-time world time trial champion Tony Martin remains almost unstoppable against the clock. Buoyed by success in the world team time trial championship, the Belgian team have topped 1,000 UCI points in each of the last two years and with the squad depth to now challenge on all fronts, they could mount a serious challenge for top spot too.
Who’s new for 2014?
Rigoberto Uran (COL) from Team Sky, Thomas de Gendt (BEL) from Vacansoleil-DCM, Wout Poels (NED) from Vacansoleil-DCM, Mark Renshaw (AUS) from Belkin, Jan Bakelants (BEL) from RadioShack-Leopard, Petr Vakoc (CZE) from Etixx-iHNed, Julian Alaphilippe (FRA) from Etixx-iHNed.
Who has left?
Peter Velits (SVK) to BMC Racing, Jerome Pineau (FRA) to IAM Cycling, Sylvain Chavanel (FRA) to IAM Cycling, Dries Devenyns (BEL) to Giant-Shimano, Kristof Vandewalle (BEL) to Trek Factory Racing, Frantisek Rabon (CZE) retired, Bert Grabsch (GER) retired.
Riders to watch
Mark Cavendish – Desperately wants to win the yellow jersey in Harrogate, his mother’s hometown.
Rigoberto Uran – Proved himself in the Italian mountains last year, and now has the chance to lead a team from start to finish.
Tom Boonen – Injury-hit 2013 campaign means he has four cobbled Classics to win back
Brits on board
Mark Cavendish The Manx Missile is arguably the greatest sprinter of his generation, and will be out to add to his phenomenal tally of 43 Grand Tour stage wins. Reunited with Mark Renshaw, expect him to be a major threat once again.
Andrew Fenn A Vuelta a Espana debut last year show the 23-year-old, Hertfordshire-born Scot is held in high regard. Likely to be used as a support rider again this year but with a ‘home’ Commonwealth Games on the horizon will be keen to get miles in his legs.
