Southeast have announced the team that will line up for the season highlight, the Giro d'Italia. The team goes into the race with multiple options for a stage win but won't be targeting the GC.

The roster is led by Alessandro Petacchi who joined the team to work as a lead-out man for young sprinter Jakub Mareczko. However, the young Italian is not yet ready for a grand tour and so the veteran sprinter may get his own opportunities in his final Giro. The team's second option in the sprints is Manuel Belletti who recently took multiple top 5 results in the Tour of Turkey.

For the lumpy stages where a small group can be expected to sprint for the win, the team will have Francesco Gavazzi, Elia Favilli and Mauro Finetto. Unfortunately, Simone Ponzi is suffering for health issues and will have to miss his season highlight. Like last year Yonathan Monsalve is expected to ride aggressively in the mountains.

The team is completed by youngster Eugert Zhupa, Ramon Carretero and Matteo Busato.

“We selected our best riders” says sports director Serge Parsani. “Simone Ponzi has got some physical problems. It will be the first Giro for two young riders [Zhupa and Busato], the others are experienced riders. We will decide day by day. We haven’t a man for the general classification, but these riders are able to be protagonists. And we hope Alessandro Petacchi can win a stage during his last Giro.“