Aussie veteran Stuart O'Grady named captain of ORICA-GreenEDGE for 2013 Tour de France

STUART O'Grady has been formally named captain of the ORICA-GreenEDGE team for his record-equalling 17th Tour de France.

Orica GreenEDG

STUART O'Grady has been formally named captain of the ORICA-GreenEDGE team for his record-equalling 17th Tour de France appearance next week.

The Olympic gold medallist and world champion will equal American George Hincapie's record - and intends to return next season for an 18th tilt.

South Australian O'Grady, 39, is one of six Australians named in GreenEDGE'S nine-rider team.

The others are Tasmanian Matt Goss, Victorians Brett Lancaster, Simon Gerrans and Simon Clarke and West Australian Cameron Meyer.

The team is completed by South African Daryl Impey, Canadian Svein Tuft and Swiss Michael Albasini.

"The team objective this year is to win a stage at the Tour de France," sports director Matt White said.

"That's our main goal. We're bringing a more diverse team this year to give us a few more options for intermediate stages and days in the medium mountains.

"The sprint stages remain a big focus, and we bring a dedicated sprint train to support Matt Goss on the flatter days."

The Tour starts in Corsica next week.

The bulk of the GreenEDGE team contested the Tour de Suisse last week, helping Meyer to a top-10 finish.

O'Grady has appeared in every Tour de France since he made his debut in 1997, finishing in all but two starts.

The South Australian supported Carlos Sastre to overall victory in 2008 and was also integral to former teammates Andy Schleck and Fränk Schleck finishing on the podium.

"Stuey knows his way around the bunch, and he knows his way around the Tour," White said.

"He's experienced the yellow jersey, the green jersey, stage wins and everything in between. Having the sort of leadership that comes from his knowledge is invaluable."

Orica GreenEDG

Goss is the team's designated leader for the sprint stages.

He delivered GreenEDGE's first Grand Tour win last year at the Giro d'Italia and has finished on the Tour de France podium five times.

"Gossy will be our man on all the sprint stages," White said.

"He had some devastatingly close calls last year. We saw him win a tough stage at Tirreno-Adriatico in March, finish third in the first week of the Giro d'Italia last month and race a quite consistent Tour de Suisse as part of his build-up to the Tour.

"The boys will look to deliver Gossy to the top step on one of the many stages that are available to the sprinters."

Gerrans, Albasini, Meyer and Tour of Spain stage winner and mountains champion Clarke will be given the freedom to chase stage wins if the circumstances allow.

ORICA-GreenEDGE Tour de France team: 
Brett Lancaster
Cameron Meyer
Daryl Impey
Matt Goss
Michael Albasini
Simon Clarke
Simon Gerrans
Stuart O'Grady
Svein Tuft