Team Giant-Shimano returns to Tuesday's Binche-Chimay-Binche as last year's victor, after Reinardt Janse van Rensburg won the 2013 edition of the race. This tough end of season race has a profile that suits the punchy sprinters - last year's race broke up on the final time up the finishing cobbles with Janse van Rensburg powering through with a well-timed sprint to take the win.  Two days later, John Degenkolb will lead the team on his return to Paris-Bourges after winning the previous edition in 2013.

The team returns to Binche-Chimay-Binche with two fast finishers in Nikias Arndt and John Degenkolb, together with a strong support team around them.

"Binche is quite an open race and we should be ready for all circumstances," explained team coach Marc Reef. "It can be decided in a group or in a sprint and for the latter we have a good chance with John.

"John was third here in 2012 and knows what it takes to win the race, and with the uphill drag on cobbles to the finish it suits his strengths well. If the race breaks up then we will adapt and take our opportunities as we have a strong team with different riders capable of getting results here.”

In 2013, Degenkolb sprinted to victory in the Paris-Bourges that has proven over the years to suit the fast finishers. He will be supported by a strong line-up that holds both experience and youth.

"Paris-Bourges is a good end of season semi-classic that suits John well," explained coach Christian Guiberteau (FRA). "The goal will be to work for him and to get him into the best possible position for the finish.

"Last year John finished the season in a strong way and hopefully he and the team can do the same this year. He showed with his second place at the Münsterland Giro that he's recovered from the Worlds, and I think we can have a good race here."

Giant-Shimano roster for the 2014 Binche-Chimay-Binche:

Nikias Arndt, Bert De Backer, Brian Bulgac, Roy Curvers, John Degenkolb, Koen De Kort, Tom Stamsnijder, Tom Veelers

Giant-Shimano roster for the 2014 Paris-Bourges:

Brian Bulgac, Lawson Craddock, Thomas Damuseau, John Degenkolb, Dries Devenyns, Thierry Hupond, Daan Olivier, Tom Stamsnijder