23 January, 2017, Geelong (AUS)
After a strong performance at the Santos Tour Down Under, the same seven-rider team is set to line up at the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race this Sunday, 28 January.
“We have multiple cards to play at the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race. Simon Gerrans will be our protected rider for a sprint finish as last year he was right up there and finished second in the group of 20 or so riders. I expect there to be a selection of 20 to 30 riders there at the finish again this year,” Sports Director Fabio Baldato said.
“With Rohan Dennis and Richie Porte in great shape, we can also go on the offensive and try something different. We will see how the race unfolds and decide which card we want to play on the day. It is good to have so many options as it is a tough course and anything can happen in a one-day race. To win the road race would be a great way to wrap up our Australian season before we head back to Europe, especially with three of Australia’s best riders in our team.”
Simon Gerrans finished second last year and is looking to go one better in 2018.
“I really like the course. The first loop we do when we head down towards the Great Ocean Road is quite scenic and a good way to get a few kilometers out of the way. As we get to the finish circuits it becomes a really selective part where we often see a small group come to the finish. I really like the circuit and I think it suits me well,” Gerrans said.
For Richie Porte, the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race is another opportunity to test his form before returning to Europe.
“I can take a lot of confidence out of my performance at the Santos Tour Down Under. I’m climbing just as well now as I was last year so I’m confident that I can race well on Sunday. I was able to try my luck last year in the finale and this year, we’ll see how things play out on the day. We have a great team, including Simon Gerrans who came so close last year and who I think will have a good shot this year,” Porte explained.
As he did at the Santos Tour Down Under, Rohan Dennis is ready to play his role in supporting the team.
“We’ll be lining up on Sunday to support Simon Gerrans so we’ll do everything we can to help him get the win. It’s a hard race and like any one-day race, it can be unpredictable. It’s great to have another race in Australia with WorldTour status and it’s an important one for BMC Racing Team,” Dennis added.
Miles Scotson will join his Australian counterparts, as well as Patrick Bevin, Tom Bohli, and Danilo Wyss, at the start line.
Before lining up at the road race on Sunday, the team, with the exclusion of Porte, will line up at the Race Melbourne criterium on Thursday evening.
Race Melbourne (25 January) / Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race (28 January)
Rider roster:
Patrick Bevin (NZ), Tom Bohli (SUI), Rohan Dennis (AUS), Simon Gerrans (AUS), Richie Porte (AUS) – road race only, Miles Scotson (AUS), Danilo Wyss (SUI).
Sports Director:
Fabio Baldato (ITA)
