Team Giant-Alpecin lines up for its first race on French soil of the season this weekend, with the two-day Tour du Haut Var-matin on the agenda.

Two tough, hilly stages await the riders but last year showed that despite the rolling parcours, the punchy sprinters can still make it over the climbs and to the finish in sight of victory.

In 2014 the team came away with a second place on the opening stage through John Degenkolb and the team this season brings sprinter Luka Mezgec to the race to challenge for if the chance of a fast finish arrives. He is joined by a strong team including road captain Roy Curvers, fresh from racing in Dubai. Chad Haga also continues his season here at Haut Var after already having raced at both the Tour Down Under and the Dubai Tour.

"We will focus on riding offensively with the goal of a stage result through the riders in final preparations for the Flemish classics, in Albert, Roy and Zico," explained team coach Aike Visbeek.

"Chad made a good impression in Dubai and can do well overall here. At first sight the profiles don't show much chance for Luka. However we have a sprinter to take the opportunity if a stage comes down to a reduced bunch sprint, and he has shown his strength at getting over the climbs when needed in the past."

LINE-UP
Roy Curvers (NED)
Chad Haga (USA)
Thierry Hupond (FRA)
Cheng Ji (CHN)
Fredrik Ludvigsson (SWE)
Luka Mezgec (SLO)
Albert Timmer (NED)
Zico Waeytens (BEL)