With a completely renewed squad built arpimd the two new top stars John Degenkolb and Alberto Contador, the Trek-Segafredo team wants to win in the WorldTour teams classification. Manager Luca Guercilena has revealed the goal in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport.

“We realised that we can support a captain and aim for the overall classification at the Tour de France, we did it with Mollema this year. Our principal goal will be to win the team world ranking. It’s a sign of sporting prestige. In some cases it can also become an extra source of revenue from sponsors,” the Italian explained the ambitious project.

To beat the Spanish Movistar team which has won the title in the past four years, Trek-Segafredo have dug deep into their pockets and signed eleven new riders. In addition to Degenkolb and Contador, Colombian Jarlinson Pantano (IAM), the Danish top talent Mads Pedersen (Stölting) as well as the two Austrians Matthias Brändle (IAM) and Michael Gogl (Tinkoff) are among the additions. However, the US team must also replace big names like Fabian Cancellara, Fränk Schleck and Ryder Hesjedal who have all retired.

The most important task for Guercilena is the integration of the many new additions.

“We’ll have to be good as a team and have several riders competitive in the finale of races. We’ve got a lot of work to do to build the team, it won’t be easy but it’s a very motivating challenge,” he said, adding that they aim to win in both the classics and Grand Tours in the expanded WorldTour series, which will include a total of 38 races.

In the spring classics, Guercilena mainly relies on the 27-year-old Degenkolb. But the winner of Milan-Sanremo and Paris-Roubaix 2015 is not the only ace that Trek Segafredo can play. After the best season of his career so far, Italian champion Giacomo Noizzolo is a possible candidate for the sprint classics such as Milan-Sanremo, E3 Harelbeke and Gent-Wevelgem.

“I think when he was relegated in the final sprint at the end of the Giro d’Italia in Turin it really angered him and motivated him for the rest of the season. He then won the Italian national title,” Guercilena explained.

“He came back from an injury hit 2015 season but one of his strengths is that he never loses his motivation and trusts in his own ability. He realised when he was a neo-pro that overcoming certain problems are part of a cyclist’s career.

“Early in his career Giacomo struggled to recover after big efforts in races and training but he’s worked hard on it and is now competitive in difficult races too. Going forward he’s got to keep his fast finish and handle harder, hillier races. I think he’ll develop into a Classics rider who can win sprints from small groups. He’s most suited to Milan-San Remo but can also target Gent-Wevelgem and Harelbeke.”

The Trek leader does not see a possible conflict with classics captain Degenkolb. 

“Degenkolb has shown he knows how to win, his palmares speaks for itself. Giacomo is developing quickly and so could be a surprise on the pave, even if he may need a year of experience,” Guercilena concluded.