Headlined by double Tour de France green jersey winner Peter Sagan, up and coming young rider Moreno Moser plus the former Giro d’Italia winner Ivan Basso, the Cannondale Pro Cycling team has unveiled its compete roster for the 2014 season.
The squad will comprise 27 riders in all, of which twenty remain from this year’s team and four are neo professional riders. The other three are new signings coming from other squads.
“The official roster will continue to develop a stable of young, talented international riders with a flair for winning,” said the team in its announcement of the lineup. “Though it'll be difficult to top the 2013 season of 35 stage victories and a green jersey win at the Tour de France, Cannondale Pro Cycling is looking forward to a successful second year.”
Evolved out of the previous Liquigas Cannondale structure, the Italian-registered squad will also include the successful sprinter and European track championship gold medallist Elia Viviani, as well as the American rider Ted King.
He was controversially eliminated from this year’s Tour de France but hopes to return next season and complete the race, as well as helping his team-mates to success.
The full list of twenty returning riders are the Slovakian Sagan, Italians Basso, Moser and Viviani, King, plus Damiano Caruso (Italy), Maciej Bodnar (Poland), Guillaume Boivin (Canada), Alessandro De Marchi (Italy), Michel Koch (Germany), Kristijan Koren (Slovenia), Matthias Krizek (Austria), Paolo Longo Borghini (Italy), Alan Marangoni (Italy), Daniele Ratto (Italy), Fabio Sabatini (Italy), Juraj Sagan (Slovakia), Cristiano Salerno (Italy), Josè Cayetano Sarmiento (Colombia) and Cameron Wurf (Australia).
The four neo-pros are former junior World champion and current U23 World Champion Matej Mohoric (Slovenia), plus the Italian trio of Davide Villella, Alberto Bettiol and Davide Formolo.
The team has detailed its expectations for the three signings moving across from other teams, believing that they can play important roles.
“Experienced Italian riders Marco Marcato and Oscar Gatto will help lead the team throughout the Classics season and in the Grand Tours,” it states. “A skilled, all-round rider, 29-year-old Marcato raced for the World Tour team Vacansoleil-DCM in 2012. His strong character will add depth to the team during the Classics and his experience as a domestique will allow him to work with and support team star Peter Sagan.
“The 28-year-old-Gatto was captain of his previous team, Fantini Vini, and has nine professional wins including a stage of the Giro d'Italia in 2011. The skilled rider will both support Sagan during the Classics and take the lead in additional races.”
The third is the recently-confirmed Kiwi George Bennett, runner-up in his national championships and moving across from RadioShack Leopard.
Cannondale Pro Cycling for 2014:
Remaining: Peter Sagan (Slovakia), Ivan Basso (Italy), Moreno Moser (Italy), Elia Viviani (Italy), Damiano Caruso (Italy), Ted King (USA), Maciej Bodnar (Poland), Guillaume Boivin (Canada), Alessandro De Marchi (Italy), Michel Koch (Germany), Kristijan Koren (Slovenia), Matthias Krizek (Austria), Paolo Longo Borghini (Italy), Alan Marangoni (Italy), Daniele Ratto (Italy), Fabio Sabatini (Italy), Juraj Sagan (Slovakia), Cristiano Salerno (Italy), Josè Cayetano Sarmiento (Colombia) and Cameron Wurf (Australia).
Joining: Marco Marcato (Italy), Oscar Gatto (Italy), George Bennett (New Zealand), Matej Mohoric (Slovenia), Davide Villella (Italy), Alberto Bettiol (Italy) and Davide Formolo (Italy)