Visma Lease-a-Bike was the dominant men's Grand Tour team in 2023, winning the Giro d'Italia, Tour de France, and Vuelta a España with three different riders, a historic triple win. But in the first three weeks of racing in 2024, they will take an unfamiliar approach and go for a stage win without a GC contender.

They lost last year's Giro winner Primoš Roglic to Bora Hansgrohe, and neither Sepp Kuss nor Jonas Vingegaard will start Saturday in Turin.

Youngster Sian Uitdebroeks, who finished eighth in his Grand Tour debut at last year's Vuelta, will be the GC Hope, but has yet to develop into a rider capable of challenging proven three-week winners like Tadej Pogachar and Geraint Thomas.

"We are approaching this Giro differently than in previous years," sport director Marc Rief said in a team statement. 'This time we don't have to fight for every metre of every day with the GC in mind. It's different from the last Grand Tour. This time, we don't have to fight for every meter of every day with the GC in mind.

"Our main goal is to win a stage. Together with Olaf [Couey], we want to achieve that mainly in the flat sprint. We also don't intend to hide in the stages where a breakaway is more likely to succeed.

"I'll be happy if we win more than one stage."

Sprinter Olav Kooij, making his Grand Tour debut, will be looking for six or seven flat finishes from Turin to Rome.

Kooij, 22, has already established himself as one of the world's top sprinters, with four wins this season at the Clasica de Almeria, UAE Tour, and Paris-Nice.

He was supposed to start with a strong leadout featuring Wout van Aert, but the Belgian's high-speed crash and broken bones prevented him from making his first appearance on the Corsa Rosa.

Instead, Cooey worked Christophe Laporte, who was replaced at the top, as the last of the leadout trio. The Frenchman is a fast finisher in his own right and has teamed up well with Couey in the past; at the 2022 Tour of Denmark, his leadout on stage 3 was so strong that the two finished one-two on the day.

"It is of course incredibly frustrating that he [Van Aert] can't participate. For him, for me, for the team. We've been waiting for this moment and we've set our sights on this Giro. But it is what it is."

"Christophe [Laporte] is experienced and knows what to do. We can definitely count on him. We have already achieved great results together."

"I am very happy to have Christophe [Laporte] on board.

Wisma also lost the mountain support of Uitdebroeks, as he needed replacements for both Wilco Kelderman and former Giro mountain champion Kane Boobman.

"Cyan can take his chances in the GC. The main thing is to learn. We will see what he can do in the coming weeks. I am confident," said Leaf.

Tim van Dijk finished his impressive Classics campaign occupying the last spot on the eight-discipline roster. He will be part of the sprint train along with Laporte and Edoardo Affini.

They have their work cut out for them if they are to place this fast Dutchman to challenge the likes of Tim Merlier, Jonathan Milano, Fabio Jacobsen, and Caleb Ewan, who are part of the strongest Grand Tour sprint group in recent years.

"Every year is a big step forward in every aspect. This year's Giro is my first Grand Tour and I'm really looking forward to it," Kooi said.

"It's a very nice and strong group of participants. It won't be easy, but I believe I can beat them."