The 26 riders on the 2013 edition of the BMC Racing Team, which features reigning world road champion Philippe Gilbert, were presented Friday at the new BMC Concept Store in Eke, Belgium.
Four New Riders
Last year, the BMC Racing Team placed two riders in the top 10 at the Tour de France (Tejay van Garderen, fifth, and Cadel Evans, seventh) while winning the best young rider classification (van Garderen). The U.S.-registered squad also won multiple stages at both the Giro d’Italia (Taylor Phinney and Marco Pinotti) and the Vuelta a España (two by Gilbert and one by Stephen Cummings) and finished second in the inaugural world team time trial. Three former world road champions are on the roster: Alessandro Ballan, Evans and Thor Hushovd. (Ballan was unable to attend the presentation, but appeared via Skype.) The roster also includes current Swiss national road champion Martin Kohler and reigning national Danish road champion Sebastian Lander, who joins fellow newcomers Dominik Nerz, Daniel Oss and Larry Warbasse.
Select questions and answers from the presentation:
In 2010, the BMC Racing Team made a big step by adding top talents. The following year was Cadel Evanss Tour the France victory, and in 2012, the team placed two riders in the top 10 at the Tour de France, earned stage wins in two of the three grand tours and a world road title. Is the BMC Racing Team where you thought you would be at this point and what lays ahead?
Jim Ochowicz, President/General Manager:
I think we are on track with our original strategy. Of course, winning the Tour de France and winning the world championships are highlights for any team including our own. From an all-around performance basis, I think we are on track for where we thought we would be and, in some cases, maybe yet not there. Because one of the places we wanted to find success was in the classics and we not yet won a classic in the spring. I think that is still a goal that we need to attain. Another big objective is a podium place at a grand tour.
There are some new sport directors on the BMC Racing Team this year, as well as four new riders. What are you looking for from these newcomers?
John Lelangue, Directeur Sportif:
Yes, we have two new sport directors: Yvon Ledanois and one of our former riders, Jackson Stewart. We also have new young riders as well as experienced young riders. One of those for the stage races is Dominik Nerz and one for the classic races is Daniel Oss. I think that they will integrate well our the organization and its good to have young guys coming up. We also looked to add two young guys that we want to develop step by step: Larry Warbasse and Sebastian Lander. Those guys are more in a learning process for the first season. They will be there to learn the job of a teammate. But all of these new riders are are going to be of help to our leaders.
Tejay van Garderen helped Cadel Evans at the Tour de France last year and finished as the best young rider while placing fifth overall. How often will the two integrate this season?
John Lelangue, Directeur Sportif:
They will be on two different race programs most of the time. For example, Tejay is going to the Tour de San Luis while Cadel will go to the Tour of Oman. In the first big WorldTour stage races, Tejay will be trying for his own chances at Paris-Nice and Cadel will be at Tirreno-Adriatico. So they will be on two different programs for most of the time, but they will be joining together in the Tour de France. Of course, both of them want good individual results in those one-week WorldTour stage races and its good to split them up so they have their own chances. Its important for them and the for the team. We will give them both the best support in all of those races. The one-week stage races that are important to the team include Paris-Nice, Tirreno-Adriatico, the Amgen Tour of California, the Criterium du Dauphine, Tour de Suisse, Tour de Romandie, Volta a Catalunya and the Tour of the Basque Country.
For the classics, you have so many options: Philippe Gilbert, Thor Hushovd, Taylor Phinney and Greg Van Avermaet among others. Are there any particular goals you have set for this group?
John Lelangue, Directeur Sportif:
We will see at the begin at the season. We cant forget the loss of Alessandro Ballan, because he was one of our best last season. So that is unfortunate for us. But it is clear we have a strong classics team. We have strong leaders for those kinds of races and we have a strong support and back-up team. When you think about people like Marcus Burghardt, Michael Schär and Manueal Quinziato, these are people who have a big experience in the classics. We are also adding a young guy like Daniel Oss. So its good we have a strong team to go to all the one-day classics of the WorldTour. Plus, there will be different objectives for each of them. For example we know that Philippe Gilbert is really concentrating on the one week of the Ardennes Classics (Amstel, Fleche-Wallonne, Liege-Bastogne-Liege) and he can be expecting to do some of the Flanders races.”
“Thor Hushovd is more excited for Paris-Roubaix, but he will be also compete at the Flanders classics. So I think there will be place for everyone. Its always interesting to have a different strategy one that involves having a few guys, so we are not isolated with one leader. It will be more interesting for us also. We also know at those races that a lot can happen: little crashes, technical problems at a bad moment, punctures, etc. So it is always really difficult to put all the pressure on one person. The good thing for us is that they are all professional and that they are all working together and sacraficing themselves for the other one. Because at the end, the most important thing is the team.”
Stephen Cummings finished the season strong (winning stages at the Vuelta a España and the Tour of Beijing) last year after suffering through a series of injuries. What will better health bring for him this year?
John Lelangue, Directeur Sportif:
We will look to him to grow as a really good teammate. He is surely somebody who can go into a breakaway because once he is in one, he is a strong engine. But he is also there to bring the necessary support to some of our GC (general classification) leaders for the one-week stage races.
BMC Racing Team Rider Roster:
Alessandro Ballan (ITA), Adam Blythe (GBR), Brent Bookwalter (USA), Marcus Burghardt (GER), Stephen Cummings (GBR), Yannick Eijssen (BEL), Cadel Evans (AUS), Mathias Frank (BEL), Philippe Gilbert (BEL), Thor Hushovd (NOR), Martin Kohler (SUI), Sebastian Lander (DEN), Klaas Lodewyck (BEL), Amaël Moinard (FRA), Steve Morabito (SUI), Dominik Nerz (GER), Daniel Oss (ITA), Taylor Phinney (USA), Marco Pinotti (ITA), Manuel Quinziato (ITA), Ivan Santaromita (ITA), Michael Schär (SUI), Greg Van Avermaet (BEL), Tejay van Garderen (USA), Larry Warbasse (USA), Danilo Wyss (SUI).
BMC Racing Team Directors:
John Lelangue, Directeur Sportif
Fabio Baldato, Assistant Director
Jackson Stewart, Assistant Director
Yvon Ledanois, Assistant Director
Max Sciandri, Assistant Director
