Having had their 2014 debut in the Tour Down Under, Giant-Shimano prepare themselves for their first race on European soil. The scene will be the GP d'Ouverture la Marseillaise where Warren Barguil and John Degenkolb will lead the team.

Giant-Shimano got their season off to the perfect start when Marcel Kittel sprinted to the win in the People's Choice Classic but the team didn't have much success in the Tour Down Under. Now they hope to build some momentum in their first race on the European calendar, the GP d'Ouverture la Marseillaise on Sunday.

The undulating one-day race usually sees a reduced peloton fight out the finish and last year Warren Barguil sprinted to an impressive eighth place. Barguil returns this year with a year’s race experience at WorldTour level under his belt, along with seven teammates with several different cards to play.

Another rider who performed well last year was Thomas Damuseau and the versatile Frenchman will be back again in 2014 to improve on his 3rd place.
 
It will be the first race of the season for all of the Team Giant-Shimano riders competing, including John Degenkolb who will be looking to stretch his legs and see how is form is after the winter break. The race also marks both Dries Devenyns'  and Chad Haga’s first race since joining the team.

Team Giant-Shimano’s coach for the race, Christian Guiberteau  said:

“It’s the first race of the season for all the guys here so our main target is to get the cohesion back after a break, and make sure everyone is working well together. It is also important for the guys to get their heads back into race mode.
 
 “It’s a tough race here, always up and down but without any real mountains so anything can happen. It depends on what the weather is doing too. All the guys have had a solid winter so it will be good to see them racing again.”

Giant-Shimano for the GP d'Ouverture la Marseillaise

Warren Barguil
Roy Curvers
Thomas Damuseau
John Degenkolb
Dries Devenyns
Chad Haga
Tobias Ludvigsson
Albert Timmer