Cannondale Pro Cycling will continue their Australian race schedule by lining up at the Herald Sun Tour next week. The team will line-up a young roster that is spearheaded by sprinter Guillaume Boivin and also includes U23 world champion Matej Mohoric.

Cannondale Pro Cycling will join fellow WorldTour teams Orica-GreenEDGE and Garmin Sharp at the Jayco Herald Sun Tour next week. The Italian outfit, coming off a season debut at the Tour Down Under, has identified Canadian speedster Guillaume Boivan as their best chance to deliver the teams’ first success of the 2014 season.

But within the larger picture, an intriguing battle presents itself – that of two of the world’s rising stars in Matej Mohoric and Caleb Ewan (Jayco U23 National Team). Mohoric is the youngest rider on the Cannondale team and the reigning world under-23 road race champion. Twelve months earlier he slipped away from Ewan in the closing stages of the 2012 world junior championship forcing the New South Welshman to settle for the silver medal.

Whilst Ewan, who will ride for the Jayco U23 National Team at the Jayco Herald Sun Tour, elected to have a final year on the under-23 circuit before joining Orica-GreenEDGE for the end of the season, Mohoric is amid his debut season at the world’s highest level on what will be a steep learn curb for the Slovenian.

“My goals for this season are not so much about results. I am very young and still need time to develop myself. So this year should be more about the learning and gaining experience,” Mohoric said. “This race means a strong start of the season, so I will return back to Europe with some racing kilometres in my legs. That should make racing a bit easier.”

At 24-years-old, Boivan is another developing rider. The Canadian returns to Victoria with fond memories, having won tied for the bronze medal at the under-23 world championships in Geelong in 2010. Whilst the team will let the racing decide their overall leader, there is no doubting he will be the man the team set up for any final bunch sprints.

“We can do a good general classification and we will try to win a stage with our sprinter Guillaume Boivin,” team manager Biagio Conte said. “We haven’t the leader, yes for the sprint, but the road and the race will tell who will be the (general classification) leader.

Boivan and Mohoric are joined by 2013 New Zealand championship silver medallist George Bennett, 2011 Giro della Lunigiana champion Alberto Bettiol and 2011 Austrian road race champion Matthias Krizek. Whilst it will be the majority of the team’s first start at Australia’s oldest stage race, their sole local ride Cameron Wurf will provide some valuable local knowledge.

“This will be my fourth Herald Sun Tour so and I have always loved coming back to race in and around Melbourne,” Wurf said. “It’s a race where you need to be alert as with the varying terrain and weather, the race situation can change in the blink of an eye so you don't want to be caught out!”

Cannondale Pro Cycling Team – 2014 Jayco Herald Sun Tour

George BENNETT (NZL, 23): 2013 New Zealand national championship silver medalist in debut season for Cannondale having moved from Leopard-Trek. Winner 2011 New Zealand Cycle Classic and Tour of Wellington.

Alberto BETTIOL (ITA, 20): Winner and two-time stage winner at 2011 Giro della Lunigiana, 3rd 2013 national under 23 road race championship, 7th 2013 European under 23 championship.

Guillaume BOIVAN (CAN, 24): Bronze medallist (in a tie) at the 2010 under-23 world championships in Geelong, 2009 national under 23 champion and two-time winner of Tour de Quebec (2010 & 2008)

Matthias KRIZEK (AUT, 25): 2011 Austrian road race champion and 2012 bronze medallist, 2012 stage winner at the Baby Giro (under 23 Giro d'Italia)

Matej MOHORIC (SLO, 19): Reigning under 23 road race world champion and 2012 world junior road race champion and time trial silver medallist.

Cameron WURF (AUS, 30): Former Olympic rower and work horse for the Cannondale team, 2nd overall 2012 Tour of Qinghai Lake and 5th 2011 Tour of Turkey.