The first European round of the World Tour, Paris-Nice, is scheduled for March 6-13. Lampre-MERIDA will be at the start of the French race with Matteo Bono, Davide Cimolai, Mario Costa, Rui Costa, Tsgabu Grmay, Marko Kump, Louis Meintjes and Luka Pibernik.

The GC rider for LAMPRE-MERIDA will be Rui Costa, also by virtue of the excellent results obtained in the two previous editions, with the 2nd place in 2014 and the 4th place in 2015. 

In the current season, the Portuguese star has already had 10 days of racing, with 5th place in the final classification of the Tour de Oman as a result that makes him confiende for the French race.

In the mountain stages, LAMPRE-MERIDA will rely on the African climbing duo Meintjes-Grmay, with the support of Bono and Mario Costa: all these riders will be important for Costa in his search for glory.

Cimolai will be the main sprinter for the hilly stages, considering his feeling with the French race where he won a stage and obtained a second place in 2015

LAMPRE-MERIDA will also have the extra value of the Slovenian duo Kump-Pibernik for the faster stages.