Mads Pedersen and Giulio Ciccone co-lead Lidl-Trek's strong Giro d'Italia lineup

The American Lidl-Trek team has confirmed it's lineup for the upcoming Giro d'Italia this morning and without surprise we see a team with the two scheduled leaders. It is a team that can afford itself to be ambitious, both in the fight for the pink jersey, the ciclamino jersey, and stage wins in all terrains.

Giulio Ciccone leads the team's GC aspirations after a return to the Corsa Rosa and a recent victory at the Tour of the Alps - where he finished fourth in the overall classification. The team will be focusing on stage wins quite a lot with certainty, but in the mountains he will be able to count on the support of Carlos Verona and Patrick Konrad, whilst Mathias Vacek - who can also fight for his own results in the hills and time-trials - could also be a precious tactical weapon in some days.

On the opposite side of the lineup is Mads Pedersen, who will not be present at this year's Tour de France, but finds a leadership position at a Giro where many stages suit him very well. The Dane has come off his strongest ever spring classics campaign and if he carries the same form into Albania he is a very strong candidate to be the first pink jersey of the race, but throughout the three weeks he will not lack opportunities.

The team is completed by Daan Hoole who will be mainly supporting Pedersen in the sprints, Jacopo Mosca as road captain and the surprise presence of Soren Kragh Andersen who has started his season only a few days ago - after a saddle sore kept him out of action for months - and may have a fluid domestique/stage hunting role depending on the days.

Lidl-Trek for Giro d'Italia:

Giulio Ciccone
Daan Hoole
Patrick Konrad
Soren Kragh Andersen
Jacopo Mosca
Mads Pedersen
Mathias Vacek
Carlos Verona