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Team profile: Lampre

Nationality: Italian

Track record: Not that special - over the years, 12 stage wins but none since 2010, and their only two days in yellow came in 2002.

Lampre's world champion Rui Costa will be aiming to make an impact on this year's Tour. Credit: PA

Leader: World road race champion and three-time Tour stage winner Rui Costa leads the charge, with support from American veteran Chris Horner, who turns 43 in October, and is on the comeback trail after puncturing a lung and suffering four fractured ribs in a training crash in April.

Changes since 2013: Four riders - Kristjian Durasek, Sacha Modolo, Nelson Oliveira and Ariel Richeze - are taking part in their first Tour. Matteo Bono and Filippo Pozzato are the two riders who made it to the 11-man list but missed out on a place in the squad.

Target: Traditionally the team has tended to focus more on the Giro d'Italia but the pairing of Costa and Horner suggests this year they will be giving it their best shot.

Final nine: Davide Cimolai (Italy), Rui Costa (Portugal), Kristijan Durasek (Croatia), Christopher Horner (USA), Sacha Modolo (Italy), Nelson Oliveira (Portugal), Maximiliano Ariel Richeze (Argentian), Josè Rodolfo Serpa Perez (Colombia) and Rafael Valls Ferri (Spain).

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