Tim Elverson will warm up for the Tour of Britain by taking his squad on a European tour.
BIKE Channel Canyon have four major UCI contests booked in as they continue their build-up to the eight-day stage race, which begins in Edinburgh on Sunday, September 3.
Those contests begin with the UCI 1.1 Grote Prijs Jef Scherens in Leuven on Sunday and end with the 2.2 Ronde van Midden Nederland in Holland the following weekend.
Sandwiched in between will be two further 1.1 races in Belgium – the GP Stad Zottegem and Druivenkoers – Overijse.
Following Saturday night’s Bristol Grand Prix, where Rory Townsend will defend the crown he won last season, all eyes will turn to the Grote Prijs Jef Scherens.
And with a roll of honour which includes Andrew Greipel, Lars Boom and Thor Hushovd, the 186km race promises to be a thrilling battle.
World Tour outfits Lotto Soudal, Lotto NL Jumbo and Quick-Step Floors will all be on the grid, alongside the usual suspects from Pro Continental level.
Sports director Tim Elverson has selected a powerful line-up in a bid to make an impact, with Chris Opie providing the pace for a bunch sprint.
He will be joined in the line-up by road captain Rob Partridge, James Lowsley-Williams, Sam Lowe, Matt Nowell, Jack Pullar, Joe Fry and Harry Tanfield.
Tanfield starred in the team’s latest visit to Belgium, when he registered second spot in the 1.2 Antwerpse Havenpijl.
Dexter Gardias, Townsend and Max Stedman are all expected to join the party for the midweek contests, with the final line-ups to be announced.
Then Opie will lead the charge in defence of his Ronde van Midden Nederland crown, which he won in the colours of ONE Pro Cycling last season.
The former Pro Continental squad won the opening team time trial before Opie sprinted to glory on stage two to clinch the general classification victory.
