Following his splendid performances under the Orica-GreenEDGE banner in last two months, Michael Matthews has been chosen to challenge sprints for the Australian WorldTour team at this year’s Giro d’Italia.

The 23-year old Australian proved this season that he is much more than just a pure sprinter while negotiating moderately demanding ascents alongside most renowned climbers of the professional peloton at the hilly Paris-Nice, Vuelta al Pais Vasco and Brabantse Pijl yesterday, where he was surpassed only by the extremely motivated Philippe Gilbert (BMC).

Victories at the Vuelta a la Rioja and in the Basque Country or strong performances at the Mallorca Challenge and Paris-Nice earned Matthews a place in Orica’s roster for the Giro d’Italia, while Matthew Goss – also showing some progress comparing to unsuccessful last season, will be send to the Amgen Tour of California and Tour de Suisse.

"He rode a very good Paris-Nice as well," team director Matt White told Cyclingnews.

"However some of the stages were just that little bit to hard for him. He led home the bunch on one stage after there was a break and he was up there in a few stages but faded on the climbs. He's had great form and I will be taking Michael to the Giro. Goss will do California and Suisse."

Just like the Orica-GreenEDGE roster for the Italian grand tour, their squad for the Tour de France is yet to be determined, depending on the performances of their riders in the events preceding the French event. It is also not clear now whether the Australian outfit would target sprint stages at the Tour, or would they decide to keep more possibilities opened.

"The Tour team hasn't been decided," he told Cyclingnews this week.

"We want to see how those guys are going in the months leading up to it but we’re in two minds on what the team make up will: how much emphasis we put in the sprint group and whether we take more opportunists."

Orica-GreenEDGE had their 2014 season to a perfect start, courtesy of Simon Gerrans, who dominated the opening Santos Tour Down Under with overall victory and one stage win taken in the process. However, the Australian national champion faded after the cycling circuit has been transferred to Europe, reportedly suffering from sicknesses and allergies.

After yesterday’s strong ride in the breakaway at the Brabantse Pijl, Gerrans is expected to lead Orica-GreenEDGE in the Amstel Gold Race and Liege-Bastogne-Liege, but will skip the Fleche Wallonne. Australian’s team manager believes that, considering the stiff competition from punchy climbers at the Ardennes monument, the former race should provide their leader with a best chance to shine in the hilly classics.

"He went to the Basque Country to prepare for the up coming week. He's definitely our lead for Amstel but he will then skip Fleche-Wallonne."

"With Liege-Bastogne-Liege, we have a number of different cards but normally with that race it's just that little bit too hard, so I wouldn't put him in that group that can win Liege. He's finished top ten a couple of times but I think that with the likes of [Alejandro] Valverde climbing so well he'll run out of legs but Amstel is definitely winnable."