Mark Cavendish returns to the Giro d'Italia after a nine-year absence. As leader of the Quick Step-Alfa Vinyl team designed to support him in the sprint finish.

The Manxman has competed in the Giro d'Italia (open in new tab) five times, winning 15 stages and a points prize in his last appearance in 2013.

Michael Morkoff, who led Cavendish (open in new tab) to four stage wins in last year's Tour de France, will lead out in Italy. He will compete in the 2022 Tour as lead sprinter for Quick Step (open in new tab). He told the Danish podcast Forhjulslir that he will run 13 stages of the Giro d'Italia.

A year ago, Quick-Step's Giro lineup was built around Lemko Evenpoel, but the Liege-Bastogne-Liege rider will not compete in his second career Grand Tour until the Vuelta a España in August.

Cavendish has three victories in 2022, winning the Milan-Torino, Tour of Oman, and UAE Tour. His only race last month was at the Circuit de la Sarthe, where he finished in a group sprint on the final stage.

Davide Ballerini will provide a quick-step sprint option at the Giro, with James Knox, Mauro Schmidt, Pieter Serry, Bert van Lerberghe, and Mauri Vansevenant also in the lineup.

The promising Vansevenant won his first pro win in Italy at last year's GP Industria & Artigianato di Larciano, while Schmidt took a stage win in Montalcino at last year's Giro Knox finished 14th overall at the 2020 Giro, He should find freedom in the mountains.

"I go into the Giro d'Italia with great motivation. Mark excels on the flats. He has won many stages in the Giro and can rely on many strong riders to support and guide him in the hectic group sprints," Davide Bramati said in a statement released by the team.

"In the other stages, we will take it one day at a time and fight for every opportunity. We know it will not be an easy three weeks, but we will do our best.