Orica-GreenEdge to strengthen sprint train in Tour de France

Orica-GreenEdge are rocking the boat in the sprints at the Giro d'Italia and planning more of the same for the Tour de France.

"Training plans? I can't tell you," Orica sports director, Matt White told Cycling Weekly. "We have our secrets, the others have theirs."

The majority of Orica's sprint train from the Giro will race the Tour of Slovenia, June 14 to 17, ahead of the Tour de France. In the stage race, it'll practice the run that it hopes will give the team its first Tour de France stage win.

This season the team debuted as GreenEdge. Simon Gerrans won the Tour Down Under and Milan-San Remo; Matt Goss led the team to the Tirreno-Adriatico time trial and its first stage in the Giro d'Italia. Along the way, it also announced new title sponsor, Orica.

It's all been going perfectly, except for in the sprints. The team with Goss won in Horsens while its rivals suffered in crashes behind. Goss then crashed in stage nine to Frosinone. Yesterday in Cervere was Goss' last chance to win before heading home.

Orica surged head of the Sky lead-out train in the last kilometres. In the final 700 metres, Daryl Impey shot ahead with Brett Lancaster and Goss in tow. It seemed to be enough, but wasn't. Goss faded and Mark Cavendish shot through to win for Sky.

"Both teams have similar roles to play. We are just trying to out-fox each other," Daryl Impey told Cycling Weekly. "They're a well-drilled squad, and we're getting there. Lots of things to improve on... I think if everyone's at 100 per cent at the end of the day, we can't be upset with that. I think everyone did a great job for Gossy."

Impey will likely form part of Orica's Tour team that includes Goss, Simon Gerrans, Stuart O'Grady and Sebastian Langeveld. Goss left the race overnight to prepare for July.

"We would've liked another stage win," White continued. "We had stage three and we've been close in every sprint we've done. This is the first time these guys have worked together, so, come July, we add more beef into the train with O'Grady and Langeveld... It's going to be a very formidable train."

Giro d'Italia 2012: Latest news

Cavendish's Sky lead-out still on learning curve

Cavendish disappointed to lose Giro stage in Montecatini Terme

Goss shaping up as Orica-GreenEdge leader

Hesjedal happy with Giro performance despite losing lead

Pinotti alters Giro plans after losing time in mountains

Pozzato apologises for role in causing crash

Hesjedal has tough day as Giro leader

Schleck building form in Giro for final week in Alps

English speakers on top

Giro favourites to make move in first mountain finish

Malori will relish time in Giro lead

Giro d'Italia 2012: Live coverage

Giro d'Italia 2012 live text coverage schedule

Giro d'Italia 2012: Stage reports

Stage 13: Cavendish makes it three

Stage 12: Bak attacks to win

Stage 11: Ferrari wins Giro stage on ride to redemption

Stage 10: Rodriguez wins thrilling finale to take leadStage nine: Ventoso wins in Frosinone as Goss and Cavendish fall

Stage eight: Pozzovivo takes another Giro win

Stage seven: Hesjedal moves into Giro lead

Stage six: Rubiano solos to epic Giro stage win

Stage five: Cavendish bounces back for another stage win

Stage four: Garmin-Barracuda win TTT to take lead

Stage three: Goss wins in Horsens as Cavendish and Phinney crash

Stage two: Cavendish wins in Herning

Stage one: Phinney wins time trial

Giro d'Italia 2012: Photo galleries

Stage 13 photo gallery

Stage 12 photo gallery

Stage 11 photo gallery

Stage 10 photo gallery

Stage nine photo gallery

Stage eight photo gallery

Stage seven photo gallery

Stage six photo gallery

Stage five photo gallery

Stage four photo gallery

Stage three photo gallery

Stage two photo gallery

Stage one photo gallery

Giro d'Italia 2012: Teams and riders

Giro d'Italia 2012 start list

Giro d'Italia 2012: TV guide

Giro d'Italia 2012: British Eurosport TV schedule

Related links

Giro d'Italia 2012: The Big Preview

Cycling Weekly's Giro d'Italia section