Team Giant-Shimano will line up at the Vattenfall Cyclassics as defending champion but with John Degenkolb riding the Vuelta, the team will be led by their other sprint star. Marcel Kittel will target his first ever victory in a one-day race on the WorldTour and will have most of his usual sprint team at his disposal.

Team Giant-Shimano returns to Germany for the one-day Vattenfall Cyclassics as previous winners but without last year's victor, John Degenkolb in the line-up.

Inspite of this, the team come with another large sprint focus with Marcel Kittel headlining the line-up for the one-day WorldTour race on home soil, with a strong support team clearly focused on this outcome.

Kittel is joined by three riders from the sprint formation at the Tour de France, Roy Curvers, Albert Timmer and Tom Veelers.

Alongside them is Simon Geschke, Reinardt Janse van Rensburg, Luka Mezgec and Tom Stamsnijder  - joining the sprint-focused group looking for success at this race and who all come here from a tough Eneco Tour.

"We have a strong line-up in Hamburg for this race that is focused on riding for a sprint finish with Marcel," said coach Marc Reef.

"Together with Albert, Marcel prepared well for this race in Norway and after a successful Tour de France it is nice for him to show himself on home soil at what is the only one-day WorldTour race in Germany.

"The majority of the team here raced hard at the Eneco Tour and will come into this race with good shape ready to challenge for a top result."