With just a few days to go, the countdown is on for the first of this year’s Grand Tours, the Giro d’Italia. John Degenkolb will lead Argos-Shimano at the Corsa Rosa.

“We have a clear goal in mind and that is sprinting for victory with John Degenkolb in this Giro d’Italia,” said sports manager Addy Engels. “When the stages become more challenging, we will use an offensive strategy, and we will give the other guys the chance for a good result in a break.”

“I hope to win a stage and we have a good team to achieve this,” Degenkolb said. “The Giro d’Italia is a great race, I've already been looking to start this race for while as it will be my first one.

“After the Classics I was focusing on this race, I did lot’s of sprint exercises and of course longer endurance rides to strength my endurance especially for the longer and harder climbs we have to pass this Giro d’Italia.

“Our team is sending a good group to this race; I expect a good sprint train set-up with guys like Bert De Backer, Albert Timmer and lead-out man Koen de Kort who have plenty of experience.”

Another interesting fact is that Chinese rider Ji Cheng will be the first Chinese participant in the Giro.

"The Giro d’Italia is my second grand tour after the Vuelta a España that I finished last year" said Cheng. "I am really proud to be the first Chinese rider to start the in this race. The Chinese population will follow my participation in the Giro d’Italia and it is great to see that my team and I are known already in my home country and that we can bring attention to the sport of cycling.

"It will be a tough race but we have had a very good preparation with the training camp at our training base in Altea, Spain and the successful Tour of Turkey last week". Cheng, also known as the ‘breakaway killer’, is an important link in the team for the team's sprinter Degenkolb. "I would be very satisfied after three weeks if we win a stage and I complete the race. I am looking forward to this big battle."

Argos-Shimano line-up for Giro d’Italia:
Bert De Backer, Thomas Damuseau, John Degenkolb, Patrick Gretsch, Cheng Ji, Koen de Kort,
Tobias Ludvigsson, Luka Mezgec and Albert Timmer.