The Cannondale Pro Cycling Team heads to Tirreno-Adriatico with a top-shelf squad built to contest the general classification. 
 
The Tirreno route is considered tough by any standard. There are two time trials — one team endeavor and an individual effort — and rough mountains to contend with over Tirreno’s seven stages. Competition will be stiff as well, with myriad grand tour hopefuls lining up from Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) to Joaquím Rodríguez (Katusha) to American Tejay van Garderen (BMC Racing). 

Rigoberto Uran will aim to test his early season form in advance of his bid for the maglia rosa at the Giro d’Italia while Davide Formolo looks to learn a few tricks from the Colombian stage racer. 
 
“Rigo is the leader,” Slipstream Sports CEO Jonathan Vaughters said. “Rigo is obviously very focused on the Giro and slowly working his way to that point. Unlike Uran, Formolo will look to take his chances sooner rather than later."
 
“Davide is a younger rider and would love to take his chances early in the season,” Vaughters added. “I think Rigo’s attitude on that is going to be, ‘If I can help this guy in Tirreno then he’ll be doubly loyal in the Giro.’ But it’s up to Formolo to show he can take on that level.”
 
Bet on it. The young Italian has been strong in training and is racing on home turf. 
 
“For me, racing in Italy is always something special. I can trust my fans on the road, and they can help me psychologically. Rigo for me is like a teacher; I love to be his teammate and I can learn from him because he is really open,” Formolo said. “My ambition in Tirreno is to check my level. It’s my first WorldTour race in 2016, and I want to check my condition after the winter. I worked hard at home. I think I am ready.”
 
In addition to Uran and Formolo, the Tirreno roster is strengthened by Simon Clarke, the team's road captain who won the GP Larciano on Sunday. Fresh off his win, Clarke was already thinking forward to Tirreno as he accepted his podium prize.
 
“We have a super team here and we knew that going into Larciano. And I think the effort by the whole team proved that everyone’s coming to Tirreno ready to go and ready to race,” Clarke said. “We’re really motivated from this victory and the form that everyone has to continue with some good riding this week in Tirreno.”
 
Cannondale Pro Cycling Team for 2016 Tirreno-Adriatico
Jack Bauer
Simon Clarke
Davide Formolo
Kristijan Koren
Sebastian Langeveld
Ramunas Navardauskas
Rigoberto Uran
Davide Villella