BMC Racing Team On Two Continents Sunday

The BMC Racing Team opens its European racing campaign Sunday at the Trofeo Palma de Mallorca while also competing in the Middle East at the Tour of Qatar.

Evans Begins Season
Mallorca will mark the season debut of defending Tour de France champion Cadel Evans, who is scheduled to race two of the four days. “I’m not changing very much this season when it comes to my preparation,” Evans said. “Of course, I always look to improve wherever possible. But after 16 years of doing it, the improvements may not be that great that I can make. But if there’s any way we can improve, we will.” The BMC Racing Team is taking 13 riders and can enter up to nine each day. “The first day is a sprinter’s race, the second is more of a transitional, rolling course and the last two are very mountainous,” BMC Racing Team Assistant Sports Director Michael Sayers said. “For the guys who will be doing the Volta ao Algarve, the last day will be a good one for them to test themselves.”

Qatar Good Early Test
BMC Racing Team Directeur Sportif John Lelangue said the five-stage Tour of Qatar will be a good test for the team’s classics squad. “We know we have a few guys who can make some good results,” Lelangue said. “In the sprints we’ll be counting on Adam Blythe, Thor Hushovd and Taylor Phinney.” The race will be the BMC Racing Team debut for Belgian national road and time trial champion and 2011 world-ranked No. 1, Philippe Gilbert. “I like this race because it’s put on by Eddy Merckx, meaning it’s well organized,” Gilbert said. “It’s also good preparation for the wind and to get a good feeling of racing with my new teammates.”

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BMC Racing Team Trofeo Palma de Mallorca (Feb. 5-8):
Marcus Burghardt (GER), Stephen Cummings (GBR), Yannick Eijssen (BEL), Cadel Evans (AUS), Mathias Frank (SUI), Amaël Moinard (FRA), Steve Morabito (SUI), Marco Pinotti (ITA), Manuel Quinziato (ITA), Mauro Santambrogio (ITA), Johann Tschopp (SUI), Greg Van Avermaet (BEL), Tejay van Garderen (USA).

Sport Directors:
Michael Sayers (USA) and Max Sciandri (ITA/GBR)

Staff:
Press Officers: Georges Lüchinger (LIE), Blandine Roquelet (FRA). Mechanics: Kevin Grove (USA), Nick Mondelaers (BEL), Nick Vandecauter (BEL), Glen Vandevyvere (BEL). Soigneurs: Bernd Coutteau (BEL), Filip Sercu (BEL), Anthony Pauwels (BEL). Bus Driver: Gianni Cedroni (ITA).

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BMC Racing Team Tour of Qatar Roster (Feb. 5-10):
Adam Blythe (GBR), Philippe Gilbert (BEL), Thor Hushovd (NOR), Martin Kohler (SUI), Klaas Lodewijk (BEL), Taylor Phinney (USA), Michael Schär (SUI), Danilo Wyss (SUI).

Directeur Sportif:
John Lelangue (BEL)

Staff:
Doctors: Dario Spinelli (ITA). Mechanics: Ronald Ruymen (BEL), Ian Sherburne (USA). Soigneurs: Robert Grabowski (POL), Marc Paeme (BEL), Stefano Rubino (ITA).