Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team has announced the selection that will participate in 1115.2km Tour of Austria from Sunday, June 30th until Sunday, July 7th.
"It's a hard race with a few important uphill finishes — as for example in the first two stages," Rik Van Slycke said. "We have a strong team with the right mix of riders to be protagonists in the race. Considering the climbs, the race will be a good test for young climbers such as Gianluca Brambilla and Carlos Verona. The presence of Tom Boonen, Kevin De Weert and Bert Grabsch will be important for the experience these guys can use to help the team. Tom can also try in a few stages to show himself together with Gianni Meersman, who did really good recently at the Belgian National Championship with a 2nd place finish. Kristof Vandewalle will also be motivated and he can count on a TT in the second to last day to show himself. Then we have Dries Devenyns, who worked a lot in the last week to come back to his true level after the injury. Our goal is to be protagonists in the race in every situation."