Earlier this afternoon Team Omega Pharma-Quick-Step revealed its roster and ambitions for the Vuelta a Espana / Tour of Spain 2012 which starts with a team time trial in Pamplona on August 18.

According to sports director Davide Bramati, Omega Pharma-QuickStep will take part in this year's Vuelta a Espana fighting for stage victories with it's sprinters and breakaway specialists, but the team is also hoping to show its strength in the general classification.

"This year the race will be hard, with 13 stages considered medium or high mountain finishes. In the roster we have good climbers, but also a rider as Steegmans who can be competitive in the six flat stages."

Tony Martin will participate in the Vuelta hoping to continue the success he has obtained in the form of the silver medal he conquered in the individual time trial at the London Olympic Games.

"Tony must show his skills as a crono man in the opening team time trial and in the individual time trial," Bramati explained. "He could make another important step on the ladder to returning to his top level. Even in the mountains after the fracture he suffered during the Tour de France."

Omega Pharma-QuickStep is also hoping to show its strength in the overall rankings by way of Cataldo, Pauwels and De Weert who have all prepared well for the race.

"The objective for our team will be to try to win at least a stage and put our general classification guys in the best possible rankings position at the end of the race."

"The Vuelta will be the first big tour of Zdenek Stybar," Bramati added and continued "It will be important for him to gain confidence and experience with these kind of races."

Team Omega Pharma-QuickStep Line-Up for the 2012 Vuelta a Espana:
Tony Martin (GER), Dario Cataldo (ITA), Kevin De Weert (BEL), Serge Pauwels (BEL), Frantisek Rabon (CZE), Gert Steegmans (BEL), Zdenek Stybar (CZE), Niki Terpstra (NED), Kristof Vandewalle (BEL)

Stay tuned to Roadcycling.com for complete 2012 Vuelta a Espana coverage including video highlights from all Vuelta stages.