Read below for some of his comments about the upcoming race, which starts on Sunday, May 11th:

On his approach to AMGEN Tour of California in 2014
"I think first and foremost my strategy for this race is to target stages, and the green jersey can hopefully come from that. There really is only two bunch sprint finishes this year — maybe a third, but it will be a very reduced field. It's a very not friendly sprinter course this year. But I am here and I enjoy trying to win those stages. Omega Pharma – Quick-Step has guys for the other stages. I enjoy the spectacle of this race, as well as California and the fans."

On his history at the race
"This will be the 4th time I've ridden AMGEN Tour of California. I've had success here before. I've won three stages. I like it here. I often come to California in the winter and spend a few weeks here. Omega Pharma – Quick-Step has also come to this race a few times and been successful. So to come here and represent OPQS, it's a big thing for me. I hope to come here and be successful and make it a worthwhile trip."

On the OPQS selection and his leadout
"I'm incredibly fortunate that Omega Pharma – Quick-Step has this amount of massively strong guys. Mark Renshaw is a sprinter in his own right and he is ultimately my last man. We also have the big strong Belgian guys like Tom Boonen, Guillaume Van Keirsbulck, Niki Terpstra, and also a guy like Matteo Trentin who won a stage of the Tour de France. So, some massive powerhouses there that can deliver me to a sprint at a high speed. The most effective way to sprint is without having to fight your way through it. The thing about a bunch sprint is these days everybody in the peloton thinks they can do it. It becomes quite dangerous and the best way to do it is to be delivered at the front and have the strongest, fastest guys there. It makes my job easier. I just have to sprint at the end, which also is not easy. But it's not like you just get dropped off. You have to put out a big amount of power to get there and luckily I have guys here with that kind of power. We'll see what happens here in California."