Boonen, Cavendish, Petacchi to open 2014 at Tour de San Luis

Tom Boonen and Mark Cavendish will open the 2014 season together in Argentina. The pair will be among Omega Pharma-Quick Step’s starting six at the Tour de San Luís, the team confirmed on Monday.

“We can’t deny we have a good team at the starting line,” Omega Pharma director Davide Bramati said in a press release. “[Cavendish], Tom, and [Alessandro Petacchi] together have garnered more than 400 victories in the years of their careers, a truly incredible number that speaks volumes about the potential of the squad. Cav and Tom have also won in this race and they are familiar with its dynamics.”

Petacchi, who joined the Belgian outfit after a brief mid-season retirement in 2013, will make three former Tour de France green jerseys for Omega Pharma in Argentina. Filling out the squad will be Gianluca Brambilla, Stijn Vandenbergh, and Guillaume Van Keirsbulck.

Bramati said the six riders would prepare for the season opener at a training camp in early January.

“In the stage for sprinters we will be called on to take the initiative,” he said. “During our next retreat (Jan. 6-14, 2014) we’re going to work more specifically with this group so we will be ready to take advantage of any chance that presents itself.”

The Tour de San Luís takes place Jan. 20-26.