What to expect this year
With veteran campaigners David Zabriskie and Christian Vande Velde bidding farewell, and David Millar apparently set to follow suit at the end of the season, 2014 is the time for Garmin-Sharp’s young riders to come to the fore. The young talent packed in the American squad is exciting team bosses, not least DS Charly Wegelius, and having all gained valuable experience last year, this is the year they could all announce themselves at the highest level. Led by Irishman Dan Martin, who enjoyed his best year to date in 2013 thanks to a Tour de France stage win, Volta a Catalunya success and the small matter of winning Liege-Bastogne-Liege, the 27-year-old is set for an assault on the Giro this season.
Second at the season-ending Tour of Beijing and fourth at Il Lombardia prove he is capable both in the Classics and in stage races, and his early-season success was not just a flash in the pan. Andrew Talansky, 25, also enjoyed a hugely successful 2013 and could lead a Grand Tour team after finishing tenth at the Tour de France. Giro stage winner Ramanus Navardauskas, 25, will likely compete for stage wins again this year, while new signing Tom Jelte Slagter will be keen to follow up last season’s Tour Down Under success with a strong Grand Tour showing. Rohan Dennis, 23, is another young rider to watch and Wegelius insists 33-year-old Canadian Ryder Hesjedal is not finished yet either.
Who’s new for 2014?
Benjamin King (USA) from RadioShack-Leopard, Tom Jelte-Slagter (NED) from Belkin Pro Cycling, Sebastian Langeveld (NED) from Orica-GreenEDGE, Andre Cardoso (POR) from Caja Rural, Phillip Gaimon (USA) from Bissell Pro Cycling, Lasse Norman Hansen (DEN) from Blue Water Cycling, Janier Acevedo (COL) from Jamis-Hagens Berman. Dylan van Baarle (NED) from Rabobank, Nathan Brown (USA) from Bontrager.
Who has left?
David Zabriskie, Christian Vande Velde (both USA) retired, Jacob Rathe (USA) to Jelly Belly, Alex Rasmussen (DEN) to Riwal Cycling Team, Peter Stetina (USA) to BMC Racing, Robert Hunter (SAF) retired, Michel Kreder (NED) to Wanty-Groupe Gobert, Martijn Maaskant (NED) to UnitedHealthCare, Sebastien Rosseler (BEL) released, Andreas Klier (GER) retired.
Riders to watch
Dan Martin – On the back of his best year to date, the sky appears to be the limit for the impressive Irishman, an outside bet for a Grand Tour
Andrew Talansky – Second at Paris-Nice, tenth at the Tour, and he only turned 25 in November. There a good times ahead for the American.
Rohan Dennis – Criterium du Dauphine white jersey winner won the 2.1-classified Tour of Alberta, and will want to replicate such form at WorldTour level now.
Brit on board
David Millar – The 37-year-old former time-trial specialist has transformed himself into a well-rounded rider in his latter years. After coming within inches of wearing the Tour de France yellow jersey last year, the veteran Scot will want to make his last professional season one to remember.
