To the surprise of nobody Slovak rider Peter Sagan has been named the Cannondale team leader at the VDK-Driedaagse De Panne which kicks off tomorrow.

The race includes two cobbled road stages and an individual time trial at the end. For Cannondale Pro Cycling the race represents a good chance to prepare the most important event of the week, the Ronde Van Vlaanderen, and to try to continue the positive series of results achieved during the past week at Dwars Door Vlaanderen (Gatto, 8th), Harelbeke (Sagan, 1st) and Gent-Wevelgem (Sagan, 3rd).

The roster selected by the team directors in charge, Mario Scirea and Gilles Pauchard, includes Peter Sagan, Oscar Gatto, Maciej Bodnar, Kristijan Koren, Alan Marangoni, Ted King, Matthias Krizek and Fabio Sabatini, who takes the place of Paolo Longo Borghini.

"De Panne is a key race to keep the attitude on the cobbles and a chance to stand out for all the riders" said Scirea. "We want to perform well and, at the same time, to avoid taking any risk especially with Sagan. All the guys are motivated and in good form - we have few options to play for a good result".