After having announced the invitations for their WorldTour races a few weeks ago, Giro d'Italia organizers have today revealed the list of teams that will participate in their first two races of the season, the Strade Bianche and the Roma Maxima. 18 teams will be on the start line for the latter event which takes place over gravel roads near Siena while 17 teams will line up for the latter race which is held in and around the Italian capital of Rome.

ollowing the recent announcement of the wildcards for the 2014 season World Tour races, RCS Sport had today announced the teams invited to the two spring classics, Strade Bianche by Limar (March 8, 2014) and Roma Maxima (March 9, 2014), which are part of the UCI Europe Tour calendar.

Starting the Tuscan Classic are 18 teams (each with 8 riders): 11 ProTeams and 7 UCI Professional Continental Teams. At the Italian Capital city classic, 17 teams are invited to start (each with 8 riders): 10 ProTeams, 7 Professional Continental.

Strade Bianche is held on gravel roads and includes several short, steep climbs. It finishes in the old city of Siena and has in just 7 years of existence developed into an important semi-classic, often described as the Italian Paris-Roubaix. Last year's race was won by Moreno Moser who was quick to exploit the focus on his Cannondale teammate Peter Sagan to launch an attack that saw him reel in and pass the remnants of the early break to take a beautiful solo win.

Both Italian WorldTour teams, Cannondale and Lampre-Merida, have received an invitation as have Astana, BMC, Movistar, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, Giant-Shimano, Katusha, Sky, Tinkoff-Saxo, and Trek. The teams missing from the list are Garmin-Sharp, Orica-GreenEDGE, Europcar, Ag2r, FDJ, Lotto Belisol, and Belkin.

All three Italian pro continental teams Androni-Venezuela, Bardiani, and YellowFluo can add the Strade Bianche to their calendar which already includes the Giro, as can the Colombia team. After missing out on the Italian grand tour, MTN Qhubeka, IAM and Unitedhealthcare have also been invited.

For the Roma Maxima which is a reinvigorated edition of the old Giro del Lazio and was held for the first time in 2013, Tinkoff-Saxo and Omega Pharma-Quick Step will not be present, opening the door for Ag2r. The 7 pro continental teams remain the same.

Ag2r's inclusion is probably due to the fact that Blel Kadri won the 2013 edition of the race after being the lone survivor from a long solo break and he will be eager to defend his title. The race is held in the hills around Rome and has a spectacular finish in front of the Colosseum after a flat run back to the capital.

STRADE BIANCHE by LIMAR (March 8, 2014)

1. ASTANA PRO TEAM (KAZ)
2. BMC RACING TEAM (USA)
3. CANNONDALE (ITA)
4. LAMPRE-MERIDA (ITA)
5. MOVISTAR TEAM (SPA)
6. OMEGA PHARMA - QUICK-STEP CYCLING TEAM (BEL)
7. TEAM GIANT-SHIMANO (OLA)
8. TEAM KATUSHA (RUS)
9. TEAM SKY (GBR)
10. TINKOFF-SAXO (RUS)
11. TREK FACTORY RACING (USA)
12. ANDRONI GIOCATTOLI (ITA)
13. BARDIANI CSF (ITA)
14. COLOMBIA (COL)
15. IAM CYCLING (SVI)
16. MTN - QHUBEKA (RSA)
17. UNITEDHEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL CYCLING TEAM (USA)
18. YELLOW FLUO (ITA)
19.  

ROMA MAXIMA (March 9, 2014)

1. AG2R LA MONDIALE (FRA)
2. ASTANA PRO TEAM (KAZ)
3. BMC RACING TEAM (USA)
4. CANNONDALE (ITA)
5. LAMPRE-MERIDA (ITA)
6. MOVISTAR TEAM (ESP)
7. TEAM GIANT-SHIMANO (NED)
8. TEAM KATUSHA (RUS)
9. TEAM SKY (GBR)
10. TREK FACTORY RACING (USA)
11. ANDRONI GIOCATTOLI (ITA)
12. BARDIANI CSF (ITA)
13. COLOMBIA (COL)
14. IAM CYCLING (SUI)
15. MTN - QHUBEKA (RSA)
16. UNITEDHEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL CYCLING TEAM (USA)
17. YELLOW FLUO (ITA)