In the weekend, there will be two frontlines for Lampre-Merida. One group will ride in the Tour of Qatar, another one will start the European season taking part in the GP Costa degli Etruschi.

For Tour of Qatar (February 8-13), sports director Philippe Mauduit, who'll debut in the blue-fuchsia-green team car, will direct Matteo Bono, Mario Costa, Roberto Ferrari, Sacha Modolo, Nelson Oliveira, Ruben Plaza, Filippo Pozzato and Maximilano Richeze.

"The wind usually is the most important variable in this race. It's an enemy for those teams that don't race as a united group while it's a good friend for those teams whose riders are skilfull in racing close to each other," sports director Mauduit explained. "I'd really like to see our team as a united group, especially in supporting Modolo for the sprints.

"Most of our riders have already raced this season, like Modolo, Pozzato, Ferrari, Richeze and Bono did, so their condition should be good. Oliveira and Plaza are in their seasonal debut and the same goes for Mario Costa. The time trial of the third stage will be a very interesting test and I'd like all the riders will give their best for it."

GP Costa degli Etruschi (February 8) will open the European season for Lampre-Merida. Daniele Righi will direct Niccolo Bonifazio, Mattia Cattaneo, Valerio Conti, Kristijan Durasek, Manuele Mori and Przemyslaw Niemiec.

Righi pointed out that: "The main plot of the race will be the duel between the sprinters and those riders who attacks on the climbs and join the fast actions in the final parts of the race. We can rely on a top sprinter like Bonifazio, who has already raced this season having taken part in the Tour Down Under. If the final part of the race should be demanding, Conti could be our key rider, but we must consider that on Sunday he'll be making his seasonal debut."