Omega Pharma-Quick Step has announced the selection that will take part in Amgen Tour of California, from May 12th to 19th.

The eight-stage, 1172.7 km race begins in Escondido, and ends in Santa Rosa. The route progression is new, as the path changes in 2013 to a south-to-north direction for the first time in the eight-year history of the race.

"We go into this race with two leaders: Gianni Meersman and Sylvain Chavanel," Sports Director Wilfried Peeters said. "Gianni already did good things this year and we will try to go for a stage with him. Chavanel is at his first race after the Classics, but he is the kind of rider able to train very well at home. Sylvain is motivated, especially for the TT in San Jose. Then we have a good group of riders to support them and to try to get into the breakaway. The parcour is not easy, but we will try to be protagonists day-by-day."

Omega Pharma-Quick Step line-up for Tour of California:

Sylvain Chavanel, Kevin De Weert, Bert Grabsch, Gianni Meersman, Pieter Serry, Guillaume Van Keirsbulck, Stijn Vandenbergh and Carlos Verona.