Omega Pharma-Quick Step will kick off their 2014 season with a truly incredible squad when Mark Cavendish, Tom Boonen and Alessandro Petacchi join forces to form an outstanding sprint train in the Tour de San Luis. The team will have its focus on the flat stages of the Argentinean race but may look to success from Gianluca Brambilla in the mountains as well.

While most sprinters head to Australia to start their season at the Tour Down Under, Omega Pharma-Quick Step have chosen a different path for success for their fast finishers. The team's main star Mark Cavendish will again start his season in the Tour de San Luis and he will have a very strong team at his disposal.

Having been signed as Cavendish' lead-out man, Alessandro Petacchi will join the Maxman in Argentina, after the pair started to work together in the Tour of Britain in September. They will have additional firepower from Tom Boonen who hopes to find back his amazing legs from 2012 when he also started his season in San Luis and even won a stage.

With Cavendish, Boonen and Petacchi the Belgian formation will bring together no less than 400 victories, 2 Milano Sanremo races, 4 Paris-Roubaix, 3 Tour de Flandres, 2 in-line World Championships and 3 green jerseys at the Tour de France. The trio will be supported by classics specialists Guillaume Van Keirsbulck and Stijn Vandenbergh in the three flat stages of the 7-day race.

“This is a perfect race to start the season," sports director Davide Bramati said. “There is only a 4-hour time difference, so it won't create any particular problems and it will allow us to get to Argentina just a few days before the race, on January 16th. The race will include a time trial, 3 arrivals suited to sprinters and 3 climbing arrivals, one more than last year.

“We can't deny we have a good team at the starting line," he added. “Cav, Tom and Peta together have garnered more than 400 victories in the years of their careers, a truly incredible number that speaks volumes about the potential of the squad. Cav and Tom have also won in this race and they are familiar with its dynamics. In the stage for sprinters we will be called on to take the initiative. During our next retreat (6-14 January, 2014) we're going to work more specifically with this group so we will be ready to take advantage of any chance that presents itself.”

While the team will have its main focus on the flat stages, it may also play a role on the three days in the mountains. After a difficult first year with the Belgian team, Gianluca Brambilla will start his second season with the squad under the Argentinean sun and hopes to shine in the harder stages.

The Tour de San Luis starts on January 20.

OPQS for the Tour de San Luis

Mark Cavendish (GBR), Tom Boonen (BEL), Alessandro Petacchi (ITA), Stijn Vandenbergh (BEL), Guillaume Van Keirsbulck (BEL) and Gianluca Brambilla (ITA).