Albasini and Yates to lead Orica-GreenEDGE at Flèche Wallonne

Michael Albasini at the Amstel Gold Race where he finished 69th overall (Sirotti)

Orica-GreenEDGE will place its hopes for Flèche Wallonne in the hands of the experienced Michael Albasini and on the youthful shoulders of climber Simon Yates.

The 34-year-old Albasini, a second place finished in 2012, is the likely point man for the team while Yates will continue to develop his career after finishing 5th overall at the Vuelta al Pais Vasco.

The Flèche Wallonne is live on SBS ONE on Wednesday 22 April from 11pm AEST (live Eastern States) with streaming online right here at Cycling Central.

“We will definitely go in with two options as a dual leadership on Wednesday,” sport director Matt White said.

“Whilst people might not see Michael Albasini’s results at Amstel or Basque country as anything special, it’s a race that suits him and his consistency over the last five years certainly deserves respect.

“Then so does Simon Yates’s form. Looking at his performance at the Basque country, he definitely deserves our protection too.”

The pair will have the support of Michael Matthews who earned a podium place at last weekend's Amstel Gold Race, Simon Clarke, Christian Meier, Pieter Weening, Esteban Chaves and Damien Howson.

“I think we have the ability to be on the podium,” White said. “It’s the second time Simon Yates has ridden this race and Albasini has ridden it many times very consistently."

“So the goal is a podium. If we rode like we did at Amstel Gold Race and miss out on a podium, that would still be satisfying. You can only control certain things.

ORICA-GreenEDGE for Fleche Wallonne

Michael Albasini (SUI), Esteban Chaves (COL), Simon Clarke (AUS), Damien Howson (AUS), Michael Matthews (AUS), Christian Meier (CAN), Pieter Weening (NED), Simon Yates (GBR).