ORICA-GreenEDGE will have multiple cards to play to cover all scenarios at this weekend’s GP Ouest France – Plouay, naming a versatile eight-man lineup for the French one-day race.

The 229.1km course is known for it’s varying finishes, last year a break of seven surviving to the line and the year prior a bunch sprint of 70.

Amongst the line up is multiple Tour de Suisse stage winner Michael Albasini, 2015 maglia rosa wearer Simon Clarke and Criterium du Dauphine best young riderSimon Yates who provide options for breakaway scenarios. Danish neo-proMagnus Cort offers speed in a sprint.

“With this team, we can go in a number of directions but we certainly want to feature in the top ten,” sport director Laurenzo Lapage said.

“We have different cards to play with - Yates, Albasini and Clarkey when you talk about a breakaway or late attack and Magnus when we talk about the sprint."

Lapage highlighted the last 20km of the race as decisive for the team that also includes Australians Leigh Howard and Brett Lancaster, Canadian Christian Meierand Dutchman Pieter Weening.

“As always, the last 20km with the last climb is going to be critical,” he said. “It will be really aggressive there.

“If it looks to be a sprint, the team that can switch from being in the break so late to working as a sprint unit will be the winner.”

ORICA-GreenEDGE at GP Ouest France – Plouay (30 August):

Michael Albasini
Simon Clarke
Magnus Cort
Leigh Howard
Brett Lancaster
Christian Meier
Pieter Weening
Simon Yates