They're the dominant team on the cobbles, but there's so much more to Etixx-Quikstep these days. They are competitive across all forms of racing, and arguably the best team in cycling, taking 68 wins last season, whilst racing with great tactics and verve.
In:
Yves Lampaert (domestique, cobbles)
Maxime Bouet (climber)
David de la Cruz (climber, domestique)
Lukasz Wisniowski (comes with Etixx)
Fabio Sabatini (a rider)
Out:
Jan Bakelants (classics)
Wout Poels (climber, super domestique)
Alessandro Petacchi (road captain)
Gert Steegmans (leadout, domestique)
Andrew Fenn (domestique)
Thomas De Gendt (attacker, stage races)
Serge Pauwels (climber, domestique)
Kevin De Weert (experienced)
Stars:
Tom Boonen (cobbles)
Mark Cavendish (sprinter)
Michal Kwiatkowski (world champ)
Tony Martin (Panzerwagen)
Rigoberto Uran (grand tours)
Niki Terpstra (paris-roubaix winner)
Zdenek Stybar (classics)
Strengths:
Best cobbles team.
Very versatile squad, that will be competitive throughout the season.
Cavendish with a very capable leadout train.
A lot of big names in the sport, who can be relied upon to produce when the pressure is on.
Weaknesses:
Don't have great support for Rigoberto Uran, and could well be the difference between him winning a Grand Tour and making another good showing.
Yves Lampaert (domestique, cobbles)
Maxime Bouet (climber)
David de la Cruz (climber, domestique)
Lukasz Wisniowski (comes with Etixx)
Fabio Sabatini (a rider)
Out:
Jan Bakelants (classics)
Wout Poels (climber, super domestique)
Alessandro Petacchi (road captain)
Gert Steegmans (leadout, domestique)
Andrew Fenn (domestique)
Thomas De Gendt (attacker, stage races)
Serge Pauwels (climber, domestique)
Kevin De Weert (experienced)
Stars:
Tom Boonen (cobbles)
Mark Cavendish (sprinter)
Michal Kwiatkowski (world champ)
Tony Martin (Panzerwagen)
Rigoberto Uran (grand tours)
Niki Terpstra (paris-roubaix winner)
Zdenek Stybar (classics)
Strengths:
Best cobbles team.
Very versatile squad, that will be competitive throughout the season.
Cavendish with a very capable leadout train.
A lot of big names in the sport, who can be relied upon to produce when the pressure is on.
Weaknesses:
Don't have great support for Rigoberto Uran, and could well be the difference between him winning a Grand Tour and making another good showing.