Mark Cavendish dominated the flat stages of last year’s Giro d’Italia with no less than five victories, but the Omega Pharma-Quick Step sprinter confirmed that he will not participate in the Italian grand tour this year, as he aims to make up for his last highly disappointing Tour de France appearance in July.

Instead, Cavendish will line up alongside Tom Boonen and Niki Terpstra at the Tour of California, following his very convincing appearance at the Tour of Turkey last week.

"This year I will skip the Giro d'Italia," Cavendish said. I'm saddened as it's a race that has given me great satisfaction in the past. I have great memories and victories, even last year. But, with the Tour de France as my main objective this year, we had to make some choices."

In the absence of the ‘Manx Missle’, Alessandro Petacchi will line up as the appointed sprinter at the Giro d’Italia. The Omega Pharma-Quick Step roster for the season’s first grand tour event is built exclusively around last year’s podium finisher Rigoberto Uran, and thus the main task of the 40-year old Italian would be sharing his exceptional experience with the Colombian.

However, Petacchi revealed that he hopes for one or two opportunities to once again try his luck in bunch sprints and possibly add to his already impressive tally.

Cavendish will be backed by his most reliable lead out man Mark Renshaw in his Californian campaign, but while the Omega Pharma-Quick Step roster for the Tour of Turkey was built exclusively around the sprinter, the Belgian team line up at the American stage event with a very versatile roster.

The classic riders in likes of Niki Terpstra, Tom Boonen, Matteo Trentin or Guillaume Van Keirsbulck are all returning to action following their rest periods, while young Carlos Verona will be groomed into his future leadership role on mountain stages.

Omega Pharma-Quick Step for the Tour of California: 

Mark Cavendish, Guillaume Van Keirsbulck, Carlos Verona, Mark Renshaw, Martin Velits, Matteo Trentin, Niki Terpstra and Tom Boonen.