Omega Pharma-Quick Step is heading into this weekend's 70th edition of Paris-Nice with the aim of keeping its momentum securing the overall victory for the team. The Belgian squad picked up last year's victor, world time-trial champion Tony Martin, out of the the HTC-Highroad team's demise along with their top sports director Brian Holm.
“The team has a very high level line up,” said Holm. “There's a lot of talent on the squad. Our goal is to fight for final victory. The route is suited to the skills of our leaders, Tony Martin, who won in 2011, Levi Leipheimer and Sylvain Chavanel."
The Race to the Sun begins on Saturday, and their plan is to stay consistently strong in a race book-ended by time trials. "The opening time trial and the closing time trial will be very important in the economy of the race," explained Holm, "as will the 5th stage with an uphill arrival in Mende."
Other concerns for the team is a route that requires the riders to be attentive with the various road furniture and narrow roads. "In general, as always it will be a hard fought Paris Nice, we'll have to ride paying close attention to hidden hazards on the route," Holm continued. "As far as we're concerned we're going to race to try to protect our leaders and set them up in the best conditions to play for final victory."
Even though the team has three solid contenders for the overall, they will also be looking for opportunities to continue sprinter and Classics specialist Tom Boonen's strong 2012 in hopes of returning him to the top step of the podium in one of the sport's Monuments later this spring.
"The group is very strong and suited to any type of terrain," Holm explained. "De Weert and Devenyns will support the leaders on the climbs, Maes and Vandenbergh will be the guys to eventually control the race. Tom Boonen will try to play his cards on the stages that favour him and will put his own experience to the service of the team when necessary.”
Omega Pharma-Quick Step team for the 2012 Paris-Nice
Tom Boonen (BEL)
Sylvain Chavanel (FRA)
Kevin De Weert (BEL)
Dries Devenyns (BEL)
Levi Leipheimer (USA)
Nikolas Maes (BEL)
Tony Martin (GER)
Stijn Vandenbergh (BEL)
Sports Directors
Brian Holm (DEN)
Wilfried Peeters (BEL)
Jan Schaffrath (GER)