“We have two of our big guns here on Sunday: Fred Wright and Pello Bilbao" - Bahrain-Victorious hoping to upset the odds at Amstel Gold Race

Although considered more outsiders than favourites, Bahrain - Victorious are taking a potentially dangerous team to the Amstel Gold Race, led by the intriguing duo of British National Champion Fred Wright and multiple Grand Tour stage winner, Pello Bilbao.

“We have two of our big guns here on Sunday: Fred and Pello; Fred deserves to start as a leader, but it’s 50/50 whether he can be there at the end, depending on how the race plays out," previews Bahrain - Victorious sports director, Roman Kreuziger in a preview on the team's official website. "I would love to see him up there fighting. Pello left the Basque Country very well, and he’s looking forward to being with us for the rest of the Ardennes block. He’s really happy to be here for a second time.”

With support from the experienced Lukasz Wisniowski and Yukiya Arashiro among others, Kreuziger is optimistic about his team's chances. "Lukasz has plenty of experience at Amstel, so he can help guide the team as well as being here to support and protect our leaders," he explains. "Not many will remember, but Yuki finished in the top ten here exactly a decade ago so he’s familiar with the course too. You know what you get with Yuki – he’s a solid, dependable guy, well-prepared every time he races, so I’m sure he’ll be invaluable in providing what our leaders need on race day.”

“On paper, our objective is top ten," concludes Kreuziger, himself a winner at the Amstel Gold Race in 2013. "But I really believe we can achieve something even more special than that on Sunday.”

Fred Wright, Pello Bilbao, Lukasz Wisniowski, Yukiya Arashiro, Fran Miholjevic, Matevz Govekar and Niccolò Buratti.