Orica GreenEDGE will have two general classification contenders at Tirreno-Adriatico with Colombian Esteban Chaves and Australian Adam Yates. Caleb Ewan will try to win in the flat stages. Team director Matt White told Cyclingnews about the main goals.

"It’s been a couple of years since we won it, but it’s a pretty simple team time time trial. We’ll see how the weather is tomorrow, but if it’s like it was this morning it will be fast on the way out and a bit slower on the way back", he explained. "We’ve got a couple little fellows, Caleb [Ewan], Esteban [Chaves] and Adam [Yates], so it’s certainly not the strongest team we’ve had here for a team time trial, but we’ve obviously got other ambitions during the week with sprint stages and general as well."

Last year, Adam Yates finished 9th overall at behind winner Nairo Quintana (Movistar Team). Esteban Chaves hopes to improve his physical condition in order to be at the top in May for the Giro d'Italia. "I think both Adam and Esteban have good form coming in so it will be a good test for them. Esteban has also got Catalunya in mind, while Adam is on the first of the races where he’s really keen to impress."

Caleb Ewan won his first WorldTour wins two months ago at the Tour Down Under. White is confident in his sprinter. "It is a different step up from Under-23s. Spring is a very competitive time of year no matter where you’re racing, and he’s got some tough competition to get a stage win here, but we’re going to see how he goes."

Orica-GreenEdge roster for Tirreno-Adriatico: Esteban Chaves, Luke Durbridge, Caleb Ewan, Chris Juul-Jensen, Jens Keukeleire Luka Mezgec, Svein Tuft, Adam Yates.