Australian cycling team Orica-GreenEDGE have set the lofty target of repeating last year’s stunning run of success at the Giro d’Italia.
Simon Gerrans, Michael Matthews and Dutchman Pieter Weening will lead their nine-man squad in the May 9-31 classic.
After winning the opening teams time trial a year ago, GreenEDGE held the leader’s pink jersey for a week.
Matthews also won stage six and Weening took out the ninth stage.
The Giro will again start on Saturday with a teams time trial, a discipline where GreenEDGE are usually among the top finishers.
“We are aiming for multiple stage wins and the leaders jersey,” said team director Matt White.
“If we could achieve similar results to last year then it would be a fair call to say we would be satisfied.
“I honestly think its achievable – if we can win the first stage team time trial we are off to a sensational start.
“Then when you look at the stages throughout the three weeks, we have got multiple options with our fast guys in Michael Matthews and Simon Gerrans, we also have a great group of opportunists to take on the medium mountain stages and even high mountains with (Colombian) Esteban Chaves.”
The team announced last month that Gerrans would ride the Giro for the first time since 2009.
He has had a succession of crashes, forcing an overhaul of his racing program.
Australians Simon Clarke, Luke Durbridge, Michael Hepburn and Brett Lancaster are also in the GreenEDGE lineup for the Giro, along with New Zealander Sam Bewley.
National champion Heinrich Haussler (IAM Cycling), Adam Hansen (Lotto Soudal), Richie Porte (Sky), Michael Rogers (Tinkoff Saxo) and Cal Watson (Trek) are other Australians in the provisional Giro start list.
Porte has had an outstanding start to the season and is one of the overall favourites.
Wombat
Roar Rookie
Like both Yates twins, Chaves is a very promising climbing talent but is still someway short of GT GC contender status. Common issues remain: - their capacity to last the 3 week distance - TT ability. Both Yates have shown some positive TT signs so far this years albeit over short distances and involving a climb. Long flat TT's still look an issue. - capacity to "hold position" in the GT peleton once "the hammer is dropped" especially in echelon conditions. OGE has openly stated they are NOT looking at GC considerations for Chaves at the Giro but rather targeting specific stages. Re the opening TTT; it looks like it will be a close run contest between the "usual faces" (EQS, OGE, BMC, SKY). This is not OGE's "optimum" TTT lineup with Tuft ruled out and the likes of Meyer & Impey absent but there certainly is a strong engine room of Lancaster, Durbo, Hepburn & Bewley .... and the likes of Matthews, Clarke & Weening aren't likely to be liabilities. The only potential strugglers would be Chaves & maybe a less than fully fit/healthy Gerrans.
Sam Brown
Roar Guru
That is ambitious indeed. I think everything hinges on the opening tt. If they win that then they can probably repeat last year's effort and hold it for the first week or so. Chavez is an interesting prospect, he is young and has a lot to prove but I think he is Orica's first foray in GC contendership. They will need to out a good team around him but he is one to watch over the next few years.