For the first time in his career, Rubén Plaza will be at the start of the Giro d'Italia in what will be the 36-year-old's first year at Orica-GreenEDGE and his 16th season as a pro.

Biciciclismo reports that Plaza has been selectied by his new team to support Esteban Chaves in the Giro. Until now he has done five editions of the Tour de France - he was 10th in 2010 -10 and four of the Vueltas a Espana where he was fifth in 2005. That experience should serve the Colombian, especially after Plaza's fantastic 2015 season that saw him win stages of both the Tour and the Vuelta.

The veteran Spanish rider will participate in a first training camp with his team this week and in February he will attend a second one at altitude in South Africa. Therefore, his debut will be delayed until March when he will do two Italian one-day races and then head to the Volta a Catalunya and the Tour of the Basque Country before setting his sights on the Giro. The second part of the season is undefined.

The late start will be welcome as he underwent surgery in November.

Plaza signed for two years with Orica-GreenEDGE after going through IBanesto.com (2001-2003), Kelme / Valencia (2004-2006), Caisse d'Epargne (2007), Benfica (2008), Liberty (2009), Caisse d'Epargne (2010), Movistar Team (2011-2014) and Lampre-Merida (2015).