The Cannondale pro cycling team is sending a roster built around Peter Sagan to the 2014 Tour de Suisse, which begins on June 14 and concludes on June 22. The race will start with a 9.4 kilometer individual time trial in Bellinzona and finish with a HC climb in Saas-Fee. Featuring a total of nine stages, the Tour de Suisse will be a key event in June for the Cannondale team to carry out further optimization of the team's sprint lead-out train for sprint ace Peter Sagan as well to further enhance the team's balance before the 2014 Tour de France.

The Tour de Suisse will mark the return to action for Slovakian national champion Sagan following almost one month of training. The Tour of California was his latest race and he took a stage victory and secured a fifth consecutive green jersey. The month of training, which followed the Tour of California, has focused on conditioning and preparation uniquely for the Tour de France, in which Sagan is expected to go on the hunt for stage victories and the green jersey.

"I feel good and ready to be back in competition," Sagan explained. "I know how hard and important the next months will be and this is why I chose to stay in the United States to recharge my batteries. I needed a few weeks for specific training and to relax my mind. But now it's time to focus on the races and I'm really motivated."

Sagan's former appearances at the Tour de Suisse have always been very successful. Two stage wins in 2011, four in 2012 and two in 2013. "I always considered the Tour de Suisse one of the most indicative tests in view of the Tour de France," Sagan added. "The race includes many mixed stages with routes suited for my characteristics. This is the best way for me to push hard and to see how my legs respond to the load. Of course I like to win and this is also the best way for me to gain confidence. I'll try to follow the same steps this year. I'll see on a day-by-day basis, where the best chances arise."

"Every year becomes more challenging for me, but my goals are still the same. In Switzerland it will be important to have good feeling and to bank good results. In Tour de France I'll chase the green jersey and stage wins. Between these two events I'll race the National championship, which is another important race on my schedule," Sagan concluded.

The Cannondale Pro Cycling Team's roster for this year's Tour de Suisse also features Moreno Moser, who is hoping to secure a stage victory following a mixed performance at this year's Giro d'Italia. Cannondale's line-up also features Davide Formolo, American Ted King, Guillaume Boivin, Daniele Ratto, Fabio Sabatini and Cristiano Salerno.