Team Giant-Shimano hope to end their cobbled classics campaign at a high when they line up for Wednesday's Scheldeprijs and Sunday's Paris-Roubaix. While Marcel Kittel will be the major favourite to win tomorrow, John Degenkolb will play the role of a dangerous outsider in the Hell of the North.

Sandwiched between Ronde Van Vlaanderen and Paris - Roubaix, Scheldeprijs is a rare opportunity in the spring classics for the sprinters to have a clear shot at victory and Kittel has shown he likes the race and knows how to win here.

It will be another good opportunity to work on the team's sprint train and to keep developing this aspect of working for a sprint finish.

"Marcel is in good shape and our goal is to ride for a bunch sprint and to support him before getting the lead-out train up to speed," said Team Giant-Shimano coach Aike Visbeek.

"I expect an offensive race by the other teams and we will be ready for this. No doubt it will be a hard race for us but we have an experienced team here guided by road captain, Roy Curvers.

"It's an important race for the team and it is one of only two classics left together with Paris - Roubaix before racing moves to the Ardennes."

Looking ahead to the race, Kittel said:

"Scheldeprijs is my personal classics highlight as it is the only one I do, so I am really looking forward to it.

"Even if I didn't win a stage in De Panne, I am feeling confident as I feel good and the team are riding well together.

"We will go all out for the win and even if some of the big names aren't there it doesn't change the way we will race - there are still a lot of fast riders in the race."

Giant-Shimano for Scheldeprijs

Nikias Arndt (GER)
Bert De Backer (BEL)
Roy Curvers (NED)
Cheng Ji (CHN)
Marcel Kittel (GER)
Ramon Sinkeldam (NED)
Tom Stamsnijder (NED)
Albert Timmer (NED)

John Degenkolb and the team have had a strong classics campaign, including a win at Gent-Wevelgem, and they will be looking to finish on a strong race here in France.

Ramon Sinkeldam also returns to this race after a strong showing in last year's edition, and he will be looking to play an important part in this race once again.

The riders will also be using a customised Giant Defy Advanced SL for the race, with adjustments made to the current model to remove some of the stresses that arise when riding over the cobbles.

"John is our main man for Roubaix and if everything goes well on the day we have other guys who can be there at the end to help him," said Team Giant-Shimano coach, Marc Reef.

"Powerful breakaways can go far in this race and we will be aware of this and see if we have to be there to cover that.

"Paris - Roubaix is another really special race and we are ready for this last cobbled classic. We showed last weekend at Flanders that when we have to be there we can be and that is one of the strengths of the team."

Giant-Shimano for Paris-Roubaix

Nikias Arndt (GER)
Bert De Backer (BEL)
John Degenkolb (GER)
Reinardt Janse van Rensburg (RSA)
Koen De Kort (NED)
Ramon Sinkeldam (NED)
Tom Stamsnijder (NED)
Tom Veelers (NED)

The race is often decided on the individual time trial on stage three and with Tobias Ludvigsson, Chad Haga and Lawson Craddock here the team stands a good chance of performing well against the clock with three developing young riders.

Ludvigsson finished third overall here last year and will be looking to improve on this after already having taken a time trial win and overall victory in France this season.

"Much like in Critérium International, we have a young team here looking to learn and also to support Tobias for the overall," said coach Christian Guiberteau.

"Having finished third here last year he knows what it takes to win it, but with a short time trial the gaps won't be large and differences may come from other stages too like the tough final day."

Giant-Shimano for Circuit Cycliste Sarthe:

Jonas Ahlstrand (SWE)
Lawson Craddock (USA)
Chad Haga (USA)
Thierry Hupond (FRA)
Sea Keong Loh (MAL)
Tobias Ludvigsson (SWE)