Blythe included in BMC Team for Paris-Tours

Sheffield’s Adam Blythe who won a few days ago in Belgium is included in BMC’s team ready to help Van Avermaet defend at Paris-Tours

Greg Van Avermaet will line up Sunday to defend his title at Paris-Tours, surrounded by a BMC Racing Team roster that has helped deliver a pair of recent podium finishes including Adam Blythe from Sheffield.

Van Avermaet said the lingering effects of the cold and rainy edition of Il Lombardia last Saturday kept him from starting Binche-Tournai-Binche on Tuesday – a race that teammate Adam Blythe won. But the runner-up at GP de Québec and GP de Wallonie said he is feeling better as he trains for the 235.5-kilometer race.

“I’m recovering well from my sickness,” Van Avermaet said. “I went out Wednesday for a few hours and felt much better than I did Monday and Tuesday. But I still don’t have the same power in my legs yet.” BMC Racing Team Assistant Director Rik Verbrugghe said adding Van Avermaet and Alessandro Ballan to the line-up of Brent Bookwalter, Yannick Eijssen, Manuel Quinziato, Michael Schär and Larry Warbasse – one that helped Blythe earn his win at Binche and a runner-up at Circuit Franco-Belge last week – provides a number of opportunities.

“We’ll have a real offensive team with Alessandro and Greg, who can both do something good in the final,” he said. “And if it comes down to a real field sprint, we have Adam.”

BMC Racing Team Paris-Tours Roster (Oct. 7): Alessandro Ballan (ITA), Adam Blythe (GBR), Brent Bookwalter (USA), Yannick Eijssen (BEL), Manuel Quinziato (ITA), Michael Schär (SUI), Greg Van Avermaet (BEL), Larry Warbasse (USA).

Sport Director: Rik Verbrugghe (BEL)