Management

OMEGA PHARMA - QUICK-STEP CYCLING TEAM (OPQ) - BEL

Omega Pharma-Quick Step’s signing of Mark Cavendish was one of the biggest transfers for 2013. But the fastest rider in the world is just one of several top names in the Belgian squad: Tom Boonen’s amazing run of success in last year’s Spring Classics, Tony Martin’s victorious bid for a second Time Trial World Championships title and an impressive victory in the opening edition of the Worlds' team time trial event were just a few highlights of last season for one of the WorldTour’s most successful squads.

Omega Pharma-Quick Step’s consistently high standard of performance perhaps explains why there have been - barring Cavendish - comparatively few changes in the line-up. Levi Leipheimer has left, and so too has popular Italian sprinter Francesco Chicchi. Yet the core structure of one of cycling’s greatest ever Classics squads remains intact, with Geert Steegmans, Sylvain Chavanel and Niki Terpstra all riders who would be leaders in their own right in almost any other team.

The arrival of Cavendish is certain to see Omega Pharma-Quick Step up their game yet further in the Grand Tours. Cavendish will be targeting a second green jersey in the Tour de France, as well as increasing his already staggering total of 23 Tour stages. The fourth most prolific winner in the Tour, Cavendish is only 11 stages short of Eddy Merckx’s all-time total.

That is far from being Cavendish's only goal. Milan-Sanremo will be his first major target of the season. After winning La Primavera in his debut in 2009, Cavendish stands head and shoulders above the rest of the field should it come down to a bunch sprint. The Giro d'Italia is also likely to be on Cannonball Cavendish’s program for 2013 - last year he came within a whisker of winning the points jersey, and it could once again be a big goal.

Tony Martin, arguably the most gifted time trialist of his generation, cannot be forgotten. If Boonen goes head to head with Cancellara in the Classics, Martin will almost certainly be one of Cancellara’s most dangerous rivals against the clock.