Team News: Evans Leads BMC Tirreno-Adriatico

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Starts today: former Tour de France winner Cadel Evans will lead BMC Tirreno-Adriatico, a race he won in 2011

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Evans Leads BMC Tirreno-Adriatico

The seven-day race includes a 16.9-kilometer team time trial to start on Wednesday, a pair of mountain stages on Saturday and Sunday and a 9.2-km individual time trial as the last stage. Evans said he will use the race to continue his build-up toward the Giro d’Italia, where he finished third last year.

“Strade Bianche was a little bit of an indicator for Tirreno and a good workout with some of the riders I hadn’t raced with before who will be at Tirreno,” Evans said. BMC Racing Team Sport Director Valerio Piva said Evans will be helped by a number of veteran riders, including Steve Morabito, Manuel Quinziato, Michael Schär and Danilo Wyss.

Morabito, Quinziato and Schär helped Evans navigate the longest and most difficult gravel sector in Strade Bianche Saturday on his way to a seventh-place finish. “All three of them are strong and experienced guys who will keep Cadel in good position to the base of the climbs,” Piva said.

“But then, I expect more work from Ben Hermans and Dominik Nerz. They are our best climbers to be in the final with Cadel.” Hermans helped Evans to a runner-up placing at the Santos Tour Down Under in January while Nerz was integral as a domestique last year on several occasions, including Thor Hushovd’s two stage wins and overall victory at the Arctic Race of Norway.

Piva said past world road champion Philippe Gilbert, a stage winner here in 2011, will also help Evans and play a key role himself. “Philippe is our second leader as he continues to prepare for Milan-San Remo,” Piva said. “So we will also be looking for chances for him in the non-mountain stages.”

BMC Racing Team Tirreno-Adriatico Roster (March 12-18):
Cadel Evans (AUS), Philippe Gilbert (BEL), Ben Hermans (BEL), Steve Morabito (SUI), Dominik Nerz (GER), Manuel Quinziato (ITA), Michael Schär (SUI), Danilo Wyss (SUI).

 

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