Mark Cavendish's Omega Pharma-Quickstep team have announced three big signings on the very first day of cycling's transfer window. Cavendish will be pleased to reunite with former lead-out rider Mark Renshaw next season, as well as his old Team Sky team-mate Rigoberto Uran. The team also confirmed the signing of 39-year-old Italian sprinter Alessandro Petacchi who has come out of retirement to join the team.
Cavendish and Renshaw were an unbeatable pair at their former team, HTC. The signing of the Australian lead-out man is designed to solve Cavendish's problems this season with setting up the sprints. Uran will become the team's main contender in the overall classifications of the Grand Tours. The Colombian climber was a leader this year at the Giro d'Italia once team mate Sir Bradley Wiggins pulled out and managed to finish second overall.
Uran was expected to be given the leader's role for Team Sky at this month's Tour of Spain, but team director Sir Dave Brailsford may now promote Sergio Henao, another Colombian rising star.
Veteran Petacchi started the season with Lampre-Merida, but decided quit the sport in April. "To get back in the game so close to turning 40 with this great team is an incredible feeling,'' said Petacchi after signing for Omega Pharma-Quickstep. "It may take me a while to get back into a competitive rhythm, but I can't wait to get started."
Mark Cavendish and his team are currently riding in the Tour of Denmark, here are the odds at Bet365 for the overall win of this six-stage tour:
Lars Ytting Bak - 9/4
Manuelle Boaro - 9/4
Wilco Kelderman - 6/1
Michael Morkov - 8/1
Matti Breschel - 14/1
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