In the last few years, Tour de San Luis has developed into one of the premier preparation races for some of cycling's major super stars and the 2014 edition shapes up to have the strongest line-up yet. Carlos Betancur, Vincenzo Nibali, Taylor Phinney, Peter Sagan, Joaquim Rodriguez, Daniel Moreno, Damiano Cunego, Jurgen Van Den Broeck, Nairo Quintana, Tom Boonen, Mark Cavendish and Alessandro Petacchi have all been confirmed as participants in the Argentinean season-opener.

Warm weather, good organization and attractive courses have made the Tour de San Luis a preferred opening race for many of cycling's biggest stars and since being elevated to 2.1 status in 2009, the Argentinean race has quickly established itself as a major event on the UCI calendar. While many sprinters and classics riders prefer to chase WorldTour points in the Tour Down Under, the mountainous nature of the Tour de San Luis has allowed it to attract some of the best grand tour riders in the world.

That won't be any different in 2014 when the field shapes up to be the strongest yet. The organizers have already confirmed the 24 teams that will participate in the race and now they have added the identity of some of the star riders that will head to Argentina in the coming month.

Astana will be led by Giro d'Italia champion Vincenzo Nibali who will return to the event for the fifth time after taking the overall win in 2010. Another potential grand tour winner, Nairo Quintana, will spearhead the Movistar team in his first participation in the race while Joaquim Rodriguez - riding alongside tursted lieutenant Daniel Moreno - will return for the second year in a row after finishing more than 26 minutes behind winner Daniel Diaz in 2013.

Jurgen Van Den Broeck will lead the Lotto Belisol team after finishing 5th in the race last year and will make his comeback after his crash at the Tour de France. Carlos Betancur will ride in Argentina for the first time after a splendid 2013 season that saw him finish 5th in the Giro d'Italia. Damiano Cunego will start his season earlier than usual as he tries to improve on a disappointing 2013 season.

The field will also boast a number of strong sprinters, led by Mark Cavendish who will return after winning a stage last year. He will be supported by Tom Boonen and Alessandro Petacchi, with the former starting his comeback after a bad 2013 season. Peter Sagan will also return to the race and hopes to win his first stage in a race that has not given him much success yet. A few classics riders will be present as well, with Taylor Phinney targeting the time trial and Filippo Pozzato hoping to continue the positive signs he showed towards the end of the 2013 season.

The race will take place from January 20 to 26 and will include three summit finishes and a flat time trial in San Luis.