2012 Cycling Thread

[Smallville22]

Quick Step recruit Meersman
Omega Pharma-Quick Step have reached an agreement with Gianni Meersman for the 27 year-old Belgian rider to race with the team for the next two seasons.

Kirsipuu goes to Astana
Former Tour de France stage winner Jaan Kirsipuu will join Astana as a sporting director in 2013.

 

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Tour of California unveils 2013 route

The Tour of California will visit the summit of Mount Diablo as it travels from south to north for the first time in race history.
The 1207km eight-stage race will begin in Escondido in San Diego County on May 12 and finish in Santa Rosa on May 19. For the first time, riders will ride to the top of the northern California peak, Mount Diablo.
"Taking the Amgen Tour of California from South to North is something we always knew we wanted to do, and we are thrilled with the way things have come together for 2013," said Kristin Bachochin, executive director of the race.
"We think this will bring a whole new element to the competition for the elite cyclists who participate, not to mention some striking California scenery for our worldwide audience."

STAGES:

Stage 1: Sunday, May 12 - Escondido

Stage 2: Monday, May 13 - Murrieta to Greater Palm Springs

Stage 3: Tuesday, May 14 - Palmdale to Santa Clarita

Stage 4: Wednesday, May 15 - Santa Clarita to Santa Barbara

Stage 5: Thursday, May 16 - Santa Barbara to Avila Beach

Stage 6: Friday, May 17 - San Jose (Individual Time Trial)

Stage 7: Saturday, May 18 - Livermore to Mt. Diablo

Stage 8: Sunday, May 19 - San Francisco to Santa Rosa

 

[Smallville22]

LeMond to run for UCI presidency

Three times Tour de France champion Greg LeMond is to run for president of the International Cycling Union after a series of doping scandals in the sport.
Asked if he was ready to run for UCI president in 2013, LeMond, who won the Tour in 1986, 89 and 90, told the French daily Le Monde on Monday: "Yes I am ready. I was asked to and I said yes.
"With the Change Cycling Now movement, we want to change cycling. It is now or never."
LeMond is part of Change Cycling Now, a lobby group set up by former riders, journalists and a sponsor who look to radically change the way the sport is ruled in the wake of the Lance Armstrong scandal.
The American has been stripped of his seven Tour de France titles after the United States Anti-Doping Agency accused him of being at the centre of an organised doping conspiracy.
LeMond said: "I would do whatever I can to help change the sport. I would love to be part of the process to help change cycling."
Current UCI president Pat McQuaid has said he is seeking a third term.

 

[Smallville22]

Wiggins wins British Sports Journalists award

Bradley Wiggins, winner of the Tour de France and the London Olympic time-trial champion, was named the Sports Journalists Association of Britain's sportsman of the year.
Wiggins, the first Briton to triumph in cycling's most famous tour, topped the poll of journalists ahead of double Olympic middle-distance gold medal winner Mo Farah and .US Open tennis champion Andy Murray.
London Games heptathlon winner Jessica Ennis captured the sportswoman award for the third time in four years, having polled two-thirds of the votes cast.
Olympic rowing gold medallist Katherine Grainger was runner-up ahead of double Games cycling champion Laura Trott.
Ennis also won the Pat Besford Trophy for the outstanding performance of the year.
Europe's Ryder Cup golfers were the runaway winners of the team of the year title after retaining the trophy in the United States in September.

 

[Smallville22]

Rogers joins Saxo-Tinkoff from Sky

Three-times world time-trial champion Michael Rogers has signed a two-year contract with Saxo-Tinkoff.
The 32-year-old Australian left Team Sky after two years with the British outfit, with whom he played a key part in Bradley Wiggins's Tour de France victory in July.
Rogers is set to play the same support role for Spain's Alberto Contador, who will seek a third Tour de France win next year.
"I am very excited to be part of an extremely strong and experienced crew such as Team Saxo-Tinkoff in the coming seasons," Rogers told his new team's official website.
"I believe that I can have a positive effect on the team, especially in stage races ranging from the shorter stage races to the Grand Tours. I'm really looking forward to the new challenges ahead."
Saxo-Tinkoff team manager Bjarne Riis added: "I think Michael's record pretty much speaks for itself. He is without a doubt a world class rider, a very strong time trialist, who is also capable of climbing, and on top of that he is a great guy."
Rogers won three consecutive time-trial world titles from 2003 to 2005.

 

[Smallville22]

Cavendish: Driver tried to run me off road
Mark Cavendish has accused a motorist of trying to run him off the road on a training ride.

The sprint star tweeted a photo of a man after an incident near Chelmsford in Essex.
Cavendish, 27, who was riding with Russell Hampton and Rob Hayles, told The Sun the man came up behind them on a country lane, beeped his horn then overtook dangerously.
The Tour de France rider banged on the car roof as a warning, then the driver stopped and "turned right deliberately" into their path.
Cavendish tweeted: "HE'S threatening to call the police! We want him to."
He added: “He could have ended our careers or worse. He looks old and frail but he was angry, patronising and rude.”
It has been a rough few weeks for Britain's top cyclists on the public roads.
Last month Bradley Wiggins suffered broken ribs in a collision with a car close to his home in Lancashire, and GB head coach Shane Sutton sustained a fractured cheekbone and bleeding on the brain in a separate incident.
Cavendish himself was involved in an incident with a car while training in Italy.

 

[Smallville22]

Kiryienka signs for Team Sky

Team Sky have signed Movistar rider Vasil Kiryienka on a three-year contract.
Since turning pro in 2007, the 31-year-old Belarusian has claimed numerous stage wins – the highest profile of which came in the 2008 and 2011 editions of the Giro d’Italia.
The three-time national time-trial champion also wrapped up the overall title at the Route du Sud in 2011 and this year claimed the bronze medal at the World Time Trial Championships in Limburg.
Kiryienka said: “I am very happy to be joining Team Sky and I’m confident I will fit in without any difficulty as there are people I've known for a long time in the squad.
"Team Sky have enjoyed a fantastic season in 2012 and I’m looking forward to contributing towards even greater success over the next three years, whether that means working for myself, or for someone else.
"With the help of Team Sky I want to continue developing as a rider. Everyone has made me feel welcome and I am keen to getting started.”
Sports director Nicolas Portal believes the signing will improve the team and see the rider go from strength to strength.
"Vasil has won some big races and put in some impressive performances at the very highest level,” Portal said. “His stage win at the Giro d’Italia last season was phenomenal, and we were all impressed with the way he was able to battle on and take the victory.
"He was third at the world time-trial championships and has a lot of other victories to his name. He’s such a strong rider and is going to be a great signing for the team.
"He can perform very highly in his own right, or in a team capacity, and we know what he is capable of. It puts us in even better shape heading into the big tours of 2013.”

 

[Smallville22]

Contador's Saxo get World Tour status, Katusha rejected

Twice Tour de France champion Alberto Contador's Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank team were granted an automatic spot for the top cycling races of 2013 at the expense of world number one Joaquim Rodriguez's Katusha.
"The request from the team Katusha for registration in the first division has been rejected," the International Cycling Union (UCI) said without elaborating.
UCI spokesman Enrico Carpani told Reuters that the decision had been taken by the independent Licence Commission, which makes its decisions on sporting, ethical, administrative and financial grounds.
Katusha were on the list of the top 15 teams by sporting value so were rejected for other reasons.
The status of Contador's team was under threat because Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank finished outside the top 15 in 2012.
The decision means that Katusha, who finished second in the World Tour standings in 2012, will need invitations to take part in the Tour de France, the Giro d'Italia, the Tour of Spain and several top one-day and one-week races.

AG2R La Mondiale get World Tour spot
AG2R La Mondiale have been granted a place on the World Tour for 2013.

The International Cycling Union has handed a four-year licence to Vincent Lavenu's team.
“Obviously, we are pleased and relieved with the decision of the licenses’ commission of the UCI," Lavenue said.
"This is the reward of a hard work alongside our sponsors, both to strengthen the team than to produce an administrative and financial file that have to meet all the UCI’s criteria.
"It is an honour for the Pro Cycling Team AG2R La Mondiale to compete on the World Tour.

 

[Smallville22]

AG2R La Mondiale snap up Domont

Axel Domont has become the latest member of AG2R La Mondiale after signing a two-year deal with the French team.
The 22-year-old climber has been with feeder team Chambéry Cyclisme Formation since 2010 and now turns professional with the World Tour outfit.
Domont won a stage on the Giro di Toscana earlier this year.
He becomes the 29th member of the team for the 2013 season.


Katusha hit out at UCI over World Tour omission

Katusha, team of world number one Joaquim Rodriguez, have hit out at the UCI for dropping them from the sport's top flight.
On Monday, the UCI announced Katusha's application for World Tour status in 2013 had been rejected but gave no explanation as to why the Russian team ranked second in this year's standings were not granted an automatic spot for next season's leading races.
"At the present moment Katusha has no information regarding the reasons for the decision of the UCI," the team said.
"Team management, riders and staff are extremely surprised by the lack of justification for such a decision."
The UCI said the move was made by the independent licence commission which makes its decisions on sporting, ethical, administrative and financial grounds.
"The UCI violates the canons of sports ethics and causes irreparable moral and psychological harm to the athletes before the start of the new season," added Katusha.
The decision by the UCI means the Russian team will need invitations to take part in the Tour de France, the Giro d'Italia, the Tour of Spain and several top one-day and one-week races in 2013.

 

[Smallville22]

Eritrean named Africa's best cyclist

Eritrea's Natnael Berhane of Team Europcar has been handed the African Cyclist of the Year award for 2012.
A panel chaired by five-times Tour de France champion Bernard Hinault voted for the 21-year-old prospect.
Berhane, who is yet to make his professional debut with Europcar, pipped South Africa's Reinhardt Janse Van Rensburg and Morocco's Adil Jelloul to the award.
"The trophy created this year by the Gabonese (Tropicale Amassa Bongo race) organisers rewards the African cyclist who made the greatest impact during the season especially in events on the African continent," read a statement.
Berhane picked up three titles at the African championships in November and won the Tour of Algeria and the Tour du Chablais, a French amateur classic.
"Natnael Berhane left his mark on people for his consistency," the statement added.

Results:

1. Natnael Berhane (ERY) 72 points

2. Reinhardt Janse Van Rensburg (RSA) 41

3. Adil Jelloul (MAR) 39

4. Tarik Chaoufi (MAR) 37

5. Meron Russom (ERY) 18

 

[Smallville22]

Scarponi banned for three months for visiting Ferrari

Last year's Giro d'Italia winner Michele Scarponi has been handed a three-month retroactive ban for visiting banned sports doctor Michele Ferrari.
Lampre team media officer Andrea Appiani told Reuters in a text message that Scarponi's ban started on October 1, meaning that the Italian will be allowed to resume competition at the start of the 2013 season.
Scarponi had been suspended by Lampre on November 6 for an issue that referred "to a period when (he) did not ride for Lampre".
He admitted for the first time that he had visited Ferrari on October 25 after the Italian sports daily La Gazzetta dello Sport published a report containing extracts from a Padua investigation into the doctor.
Ferrari, who has denied any wrongdoing, was banned for life by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency which said he had masterminded Lance Armstrong's doping programme during the years the American dominated the Tour de France.
Armstrong was also banned for life and stripped of his seven Tour titles.
Scarponi has already served an 18-month ban for his involvement in the Operation Puerto blood doping scandal.


Sky name strong team for Tour Down Under

Team Sky will be led by Classics contenders Chris Sutton and Edvald Boasson Hagen at the season-opening Tour Down Under around Adelaide.
The pair have featured prominently at the race in the past, Australian Sutton winning the final stage of the race in 2010 and Norwegian Boasson Hagen finishing seventh on the overall standings two years later.
Luke Rowe, Ian Stannard, Geraint Thomas, Mathew Hayman and Bernhard Eisel complete the line-up for the race, which runs from January 22 to 27.
Sky have also announced they will participate at the People’s Choice Classic criterium on January 20, a precursor to the main event. Greg Henderson and Sutton posted a one-two for Sky at that race in 2010.

 

[Smallville22]

Russians blast UCI over Katusha axe
The Russian Cycling Federation has criticised the UCI for dropping Katusha, team of world number one Joaquim Rodriguez, from the sport's top flight.

On Monday, the UCI announced Katusha's application for World Tour status in 2013 had been rejected but gave no explanation as to why the Russian team ranked second in this year's standings were not granted an automatic spot for next season's leading races.
And with no official explanation having been given, the Russian Cycling Federation has published a fiercely critical statement complaining that the UCI's action is "completely discriminating", and threatening legal action.
"The absence of the World Tour professional license for Katusha Team will lead to a reduction of chances ofRussiato perform and win in competitions of the highest level," the statement reads.
"This will lead to a decrease of popularity of cycling as a sport and consequently to decrease of cyclists quantity in Russia. This is exactly the opposite to what the Russian Cycling Federation headed by its president Igor Makarov have been fighting for for two years.
"The total silence from the UCI and absence of reasons for the Team Katusha 2013 professional license refusal completely undermines the image of the UCI, whose activity is supposed to be aimed at the development and promotion of cycling in the world, important part of which is the Russian professional cycling team Katusha.
"The Russian Cycling Federation considers the actions of UCI regarding the concealment of team license refusal reasons completely discriminating and will defend the interests of the team meaning Russian cycling in general."

 

[Smallville22]

2014 Tour to start in Yorkshire

Yorkshire has won the right to host the Grand Depart of the 2014 Tour de France.
The county fought off bids from Edinburgh and Florence to bring the cycling event back to Britain for the first time since 2007, when London hosted a prologue won by Fabian Cancellara.
Organisers ASO there would be three stages in Britain, with one finishing in London.
"After an exceptional year for British cycling, marked by Bradley Wiggins's historic win in the Tour de France, the United Kingdom will again be honoured in 2014," an ASO statement said. "The Grand Départ of the 101st Tour de France will be on the 5th July in Leeds in the county of Yorkshire."
Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, said: "It will mean less than two years after hosting the Olympics the British public can look forward to another of the world's biggest sporting events coming to the country.
"I am in no doubt they will come to Yorkshire in their millions, lining the length and breadth of the route to cheer on the champions of world cycling and our home grown British heroes."
The Grand Depart has already taken place abroad 19 times, including five in the Netherlands and four in Belgium.
More details will be revealed on 17 January at a joint press conference in Leeds and Paris.

 

[Smallville22]

Katusha appeal to CAS over UCI axe

Russian cycling team Katusha have appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport after cycling's world governing body rejected their application to compete in the World Tour.
"The professional cycling team Katusha have filed an appeal to the Lausanne-based court, contesting the UCI's decision from December 10, 2012 to turn down the team's request to extend their World Tour licence for 2013," Katusha stated.
Katusha, who finished second in the World Tour standings in 2012 and have world number one Joaquim Rodriguez of Spain riding for them, said the UCI decision violated all principles of fair play.
"The UCI violates the canons of sports ethics and causes irreparable moral and psychological harm to the athletes before the start of the new season," the team said, adding they have not received any explanation about the decision from the UCI.
The UCI told Reuters the move was made by the independent licence commission which makes its decisions on sporting, ethical, administrative and financial grounds.
The decision means Katusha will need invitations to take part in the Tour de France, the Giro d'Italia, the Tour of Spain and several top one-day and one-week races in 2013.

 

[Smallville22]

Visconti next to receive ban for Ferrari dealings

Movistar's Giovanni Visconti has become the latest rider to receive a ban for having worked with disgraced doctor Michele Ferrari.
The former Italian national champion was handed a three-month ban and fined 10,000 euros after the Anti-doping Tribunal of the Italian Olympic Committee delivered their verdict in Rome.
Visconti's sanction runs from October 8 to January 7, meaning he will not miss a race.
Lampre-ISD's Michele Scarponi was hit with a similar ban earlier this week while Filippo Pozzato was forced to miss the Olympic Games this summer after confessing to having worked with Ferrari.
Like Scarponi days earlier, Visconti maintained his innocence.
"I would like here to reiterate that we are talking about conversations with a trainer and emphasising that the only evidence of such contacts were my spontaneous declarations, the result of good faith and conviction of having done nothing wrong," Visconti wrote on his website.

 

[Smallville22]

Wiggins wins Sports Personality of the Year award
British cycling hero Bradley Wiggins was voted the Sports Personality of the Year for 2012.

Tour de France champion Wiggins, 32, beat 11 other contenders to the prestigious title.
He became the first Briton to win the Tour and followed that famous triumph with gold in the men's time trial at London 2012, his fourth Olympic title - and record-equalling seventh Olympic medal - during a memorable summer.
The runners-up award went to Olympic heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis while US Open tennis champion and Olympic men's singles gold medallist Andy Murray was third.
"I will say thank you to everyone who voted," Wiggins said after the receiving the trophy from the Duchess of Cambridge at a glittering televised ceremony in London.
"We have had all that jungle stuff and X-Factor the last few weeks, so for people to pick up the phone and vote in half an hour, thank you very much.
"What a year. To stand on this stage with the people next to me is incredible. I'd like to thank my team-mates. I wouldn't be on this stage without them.
“I'd like to thank Dave Brailsford, the coaches, British Cycling, Team Sky and all the Olympians."
The BBC said more than 1.6m phone votes were recorded, with Wiggins taking 30.25% of the vote.
He was formerly an accomplished track cyclist, winning individual pursuit gold in the 2004 Olympics in Athens, a title he retained in 2008 while also helping Britain to win the team pursuit in Beijing. He was part of the teams that won team pursuit silver in Greece and bronze in Sydney in 2000, while he also won Madison bronze in Athens.
Only fellow cyclist Sir Chris Hoy has won as many Olympic medals.
The victory of Wiggins - who finished fourth in the 2009 Tour, a position later revised to third following the Lance Armstrong doping affair - marks the second successive year the trophy has been awarded to a cyclist after Mark Cavendish scooped 2011’s prize.
British cycling chief Dave Brailsford took the Coach of the Year trophy, showing the sport’s increasing appeal in Britain.
Lord Sebastian Coe won a lifetime achievement award that recognised his role in bringing the Games to London, being the driving force in its success and for the twice Olympic 1,500m champion’s career as a middle-distance runner.
Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt was named Overseas Sports Personality after an extraordinary year in which he clinched triple Olympic gold and also defended his Beijing 100 and 200 metres titles at London 2012.

Results:

1. Bradley Wiggins 492,064 (30.25%)

2. Jessica Ennis 372,765 (22.92%)

3. Andy Murray 230,444 (14.17%)

4. Mo Farah 131,327 (8.07%)

5. David Weir 114,633 (7.05%)

6. Ellie Simmonds 102,894 (6.33%)

7. Sir Chris Hoy 42,961 (2.64%)

8. Nicola Adams 35,560 (2.19%)

9. Ben Ainslie 35,373 (2.17%)

10. Rory McIlroy 29,729 (1.83%)

11. Katherine Grainger 28,626 (1.76%)

12. Sarah Storey 10,342 (0.64%)

 

[Smallville22]

Edmondson signs for Team Sky
Young British rider Josh Edmondson has signed a two-year deal with Team Sky.

Yorkshire-born Edmondson raced for Team Colpack in Italy before working with the British U23 Academy at the end of the 2012 season.
The 20-year-old, considered a climbing talent, has been training with Team Sky at their squad camp in Mallorca.
“I’m really excited to be joining Team Sky, and to be taking this next step in my career," Edmondson said. "It’s an amazing set up and a huge project.
"Meeting the team you can see that it is one big unit and that the support you get - with the best coaches and nutritionists in the world - is second to none.
“I see myself as a climbing specialist but my main aim with Team Sky is to develop my tour riding and get used to competing alongside the best riders in the world. I think the first year is a lot about settling in and learning to be part of the team. I’m looking forward to getting to know everyone and further appreciating how to race at this level.”
Team manager Dave Brailsford said: “This is an international team but it’s one with a British heart and we are absolutely committed to nurturing the next generation of British talent.
“We have been keeping an eye on Josh since his time on the Olympic Development Programme and feel he is more than ready to take the next step in his career with a move up to the pro ranks.
"With the coaching and support staff on Team Sky, Josh is in the best possible place to continue his development and we look forward to watching him grow as a rider.”

 

[Smallville22]

Wiggins targets Giro and Tour de France double

Bradley Wiggins has targeted winning the Giro d'Italia and defending his Tour de France crown back to back next year.
Britain's first Tour de France winner was named BBC Sports Personality of the Year on Sunday and immediately set his sights on emulating an incredible 12 months which also saw him romp to gold in the time trial at the London Olympics.
"I've always wanted to win a second Tour," Wiggins was quoted as saying in The Guardian.
"I'm the defending champion. I want to try and win the Giro d'Italia and win the Tour de France behind it. People say it can't be done, winning two Tours. So let's have a go at it."
Very few riders have managed to win both the Giro and the Tour de France in the same year with the late Marco Pantani last achieving the feat in 1998.
Before him Spanish great Miguel Indurain managed the double in 1992 and 1993.
Next year's Giro starts in Naples on May 4 and will cover 3,405km until the finish on May 26 while the Tour de France starts its 100th edition on June 29.
Wiggins' Sky team-mate Chris Froome, runner-up last year, is being tipped to win next year's Tour as he is more suited to the extra mountain stages, but team boss Dave Brailsford did not rule out Wiggins going for victory in both.
"I was thrilled that (Wiggins has) got his appetite back. He's hungry and he wants it again," Brailsford told the BBC after being named Coach of the Year on Sunday.
"It's a problem I relish and we'll assess it as we get closer.
"Chris is focusing on the Tour and if Bradley does ride the Giro, we'll have to see how he comes out of that, and assess the situation as you get close to the actual event," he added.
"At the end of the day, the legs will do the talking."

 

[Smallville22]

Katusha intent on fighting omission after seeing UCI explanation
Katusha have reiterated their determination to fight the decision to omit them from the 2013 World Tour after having seen the reasons behind the UCI's judgment.

Last week world cycling's governing body controversially opted not to grant the Russian team a World Tour racing licence for next season.
Katusha, who finished second in the standings in 2012 and have world number one Joaquim Rodriguez of Spain riding for them, immediately appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
And despite having now seen an explanation for the UCI's decision, they maintain they have been unfairly treated.
"Nine days after the decision of the UCI Licence Commission concerning the refusal of 2013 professional licence prolongation, the Russian World Tour team Katusha has received a document containing the reasons of the refusal," a team statement read.
"All the positions mentioned in this document were considered during the UCI Licence Commission preliminary hearing held on the 22nd of November 2012. All the information provided by Katusha by its opinion is complete and corresponds to the requirements of the UCI Licence Commission.
"After receiving the above-mentioned document the Russian team Katusha confirms its determination to defend its rights using all civilized ways in order to receive the World Tour licence, including the already made appeal to Court of Arbitration for Sport."

 

[Smallville22]

Fairly heading back to Garmin-Sharp

Caleb Fairly will return to Garmin-Sharp-Barracuda for the 2013 season, two years after having left the team for HTC-Highroad.
The 25-year-old penned terms with the American outfit after his last team Spidertech folded.
Fairly was with Garmin's development team in 2009 and 2010 when he briefly rode as a stagiaire for the World Tour team.
He quit to join HTC in 2011, but soon moved on to Spidertech after HTC also went under.
“I’m very excited to be joining Garmin-Sharp-Barracuda," the Texan said on the team’s website. "I feel like I’m ‘re-joining’ them, as I grew up in their development team. I was excited when Jonathan (Vaughters) offered me the opportunity to come back."


Ferrari to debut for Lampre in Australia
Sprinter Roberto Ferrari will make his debut for Lampre at the Tour Down Under in Australia in January.

The Italian, who brought down Manxman Mark Cavendish and several other riders during a bunch sprint on stage two of the Giro d'Italia last year, was among the seven-rider team announced by Lampre.
He also won a stage of the Giro for the Androni Giocattoli team.
January 20 will mark the first time he has competed as part of a WorldTour squad.
"Australia will be the start of something new for me. I'm motivated: I want to test myself against the best sprinters in the WorldTour and I'll have the extra kick of the adrenaline from making my debut with Team Lampre," Ferrari said.
"I'll also have a chance to enter the cycling record books: If I win in Australia, it'll mean my palmares includes a win on each of the five continents because I've already won in Europe, Asia, America and Africa."
His leadout train includes Davide Cimolai, Elia Favilli, Manuele Mori, Daniele Pietropolli and Simone Stortoni.


Cavendish and Boonen to team up for first time in Qatar

Mark Cavendish will pair up with new team-mate Tom Boonen for the first time at February's Tour of Qatar.
The former rivals both signed for Omega Pharma-QuickStep ahead of the 2013 season, Cavendish from Team Sky and Boonen from Quickstep.
Between the pair of them, they won four of out five individual stages at the 2012 race, with Boonen claiming the overall title.
Belgian Boonen has real pedigree in Qatar - he has won the title four times, the points jersey on six occasions and a total of 19 individual stages. Britain's Cavendish has four stage wins to his name.
The desert race runs from February 3 to 8.