Former world road race champion Alessandro Ballan will be best known of the riders for the BMC Racing Team at next months Santos Tour Down Under, heading the squad in the absence of his successor, Cadel Evans.
Although Evans competed last year, he has decided to start his season in March in order to ensure he is fresh for the Tour de France. The possibility that Alberto Contador could miss the race is likely to be a factor in Evans’ decision to put everything into his Tour de France campaign, as well as the fact that at 33, he is running out of time to try to win his top career goal.
Ballan had a somewhat quiet season in 2010 and will be determined to return to the top of the podium next year. His top results were second on a stage of the Tour de France and third in the Italian championships; solid showings, but less than he achieved in 2008. Riding a good Tour Down Under could help set him up for a successful Classics campian.
“Team BMC is bringing a very strong team for what will be their second Santos Tour Down Under and their first race as a ProTeam,” said race director Mike Turtur. “With a strong combination of young riders and cycling champion Alessandro Ballan, Team BMC’s presence is sure to be felt and will add to what will be an exhilarating week of racing.”
The squad will comprise seven riders, namely Ballan, Alexander Kristoff (Norway), John Murphy (USA), Amael Moinard (France), the Swiss duo Martin Kohler and Simon Zahner, as well as the young Australian Tim Roe.
Turtur knows that the latter is certain to command attention from the national press and welcomes his participation. “Many cycling fans will remember Tim from the 2010 race, where he rode for Team UniSA and came 13th overall in the Cycle Instead Young Rider category, really proving himself as a young cycling talent,” he stated.
“Having spent the past year riding with Lance Armstrong’s Trek Livestrong Under-23 Team, it will be interesting to see how Roe has developed as a rider. Now racing professionally with Team BMC, his return to the Santos Tour Down Under as a professional cyclist is highly anticipated.”
The race will begin with a stage from Mawson Lakes to Angaston on January16th and will conclude eight days later in Adelaide. It is the first UCI World Tour event of the season and will feature riders such as Mark Cavendish (HTC-Highroad), Tyler Farrar (Garmin Transitions), Andre Greipel (Omega Pharma Lotto), Gerald Ciolek (Quick Step) and Lance Armstrong (Team RadioShack).
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BMC Racing Team for Santos Tour Down Under 2011:
Alessandro Ballan (ITA)
Timothy Roe (AUS)
Alexander Kristoff (NOR)
Martin Kohler (CHE)
John Murphy (USA)
Amael Moinard (FRA)
Simon Zahner (CHE)
Directeur Sportif: Michael Sayers (USA)