Cadel Evans has vowed to defend his Tour de France title as his BMC Racing squad for cycling’s biggest race is revealed.
The Australian, who won last year’s race largely by his own efforts in the mountains, will be backed this year by an experienced line-up and a shining young talent.
Evans finished third at the recent Critérium du Dauphiné after a slow start to the season.
“I know now that I can win it and my lead-up this year is nearly identical to what we did last year,” he said.
“We’re bringing an even stronger team to the Tour this year and the route would seem to favour me. But the time trials will change the dynamics of the race and some of the tactics of my rivals. But like last year, I’ll go to the Tour with my own plan, to ride my own race.”
A strong BMC line up includes the team’s leader for one day races, Philippe Gilbert, and Britain’s Steve Cummings, who rode the 2010 Tour de France for Team Sky in service of Bradley Wiggins.
General manager, Jim Ochowicz, said the team would be attempting to replicated their successful approach to last year’s race.
“What we got out of last year’s Tour was that we did a lot of things right and not too many things wrong. We’d like to repeat that this time around,” he said.
Alongside Cummings and Gilbert in the team’s ‘engine room’ will be the German rider, Marcus Burghardt, a stage winner in the 2008 Tour, and winner of the 2007 Gent-Wevelgem.
Veteran, George Hincapie, is likely to serve as road captain, a role he has previously conducted for Lance Armstrong and Mark Cavendish.
Young American, Tejay Van Garderen, who won the white jersey of best young rider with a fifth place finish at this year’s Paris-Nice, before going a step higher on GC at last month’s Tour California, is a strong all-rounder, who demonstrated his time trialing abilities earlier this month by finishing second to Dave Zabriskie (Garmin-Barracuda) at the US National championships.
Directeur sportif, John Lelangue, said the sole focus of the team’s efforts would be the defence of Evans’ title.
“We have one objective: to defend Cadel’s title and bring him to the podium in Paris, he said.
“Everyone will know clearly what their job is during the three weeks of racing. Our roster has a really good balance, especially considering the parcours.”
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BMC squad – 2012 Tour de France
Cadel Evans (AUS) – team leader
Marcus Burghardt (GER)
Steve Cummings (GBR)
Philippe Gilbert (BEL)
George Hincapie (USA)
Amaël Moinard (FRA)
Manuel Quinziato (ITA)
Michael Schär (SUI)
Tejay van Garderen (USA)
