Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team has announced the selection that will participate in Tour de Picardie, a 538km stage race from May 16th until May 18th. The Belgian team will stand with a strong roster including Gert Steegmans and Stjin Vndenbergh.

"This race is one that can favour the sprint, but it is also a parcours that is up and down." Sport Director Jan Schaffrath said. "The weather conditions can also change very quickly, and it can be quite windy. So, even if it's a race that always favours the bunch sprint, there is still a possibility for the breakaway. We have a selection of both fast guys and riders who can be involved in the actions of the breakaway. Our goal is to go for a stage win, and if it's possible, to place riders near the top of the overall classification."

The last two years Giant-Shimano sprinter Marcel Kittel and John Degenkolb has won the race, so OPQS has to cheat the sprinters in order to win this race, but they have Gianni Meersman, Andrew Fenn and Gert Steegmans as strong cards in the sprints. So the sprinters will definitely have a challenge in beating the OPQS. 

The Omega Pharma - Quickstep line-up for Tour de Picardie:

Julian Alaphilippe, Kevin De Weert, Andrew Fenn, Nikolas Maes, Gianni Meersman, Gert Steegmans, Petr Vakoc and
Stijn Vandenbergh.