BMC Racing Team (Italy) – Press Release: BMC Racing Team will line up with a strong and ambitious team at the Giro d’Italia when the first Grand Tour of the season gets underway this Friday, 4 May.

A 9.7km race against the clock in Jerusalem, Israel, sets the stage for the battle for the Maglia Rosa and BMC Racing Team’s first objective.

“Our first goal comes on day one with the time trial. It’s a technical course, lots of turns, and a good time trial profile for Rohan Dennis. We want to start the Giro d’Italia with a good result there and then move on to our other objectives. In terms of the General Classification, Rohan is motivated to see how far he can go and we plan to take things week by week. There are quite a few uphill finishes in the first ten days so we will know more by then and of course, the time trial from Trento is also a good one for him,” Sports Director Maximilian Sciandri explained.

“Nicolas Roche also has General Classification ambitions and is looking to see where he can end up. After the Mount Etna stage in the first week, we will see how Nicolas is going.”

In 2017, BMC Racing Team claimed two Giro d’Italia stage wins from breakaways and the team is hoping to repeat that success in 2018.

“Stage wins will be a big focus for us and we have riders suited to many different stages. In Jürgen Roelandts and Jempy Drucker, we have two fast sprinters who can do well in a reduced bunch sprint or from a breakaway. Alessandro De Marchi is a proven breakaway specialist and he is coming out of the Ardennes Classics in good shape, while Francisco Ventoso brings a wealth of experience and will be our road captain throughout the race,” Sciandri said.

“With Loïc Vliegen and Kilian Frankiny we have two young riders who have already already raced the Vuelta a Espana last year. The Giro d’Italia will be a good chance for them to gain more experience and take any opportunities that come their way. Overall, we have a well-rounded team and I think we can make a lot of our objectives a reality.”

Giro d’Italia (5-27 May).

Sports Directors: Maximilian Sciandri (ITA), Valerio Piva (ITA).

Rider Roster:

Rohan Dennis (2017):
“The opening time trial would be great to win but I’m not putting too much pressure on myself. There are not many Australians who have worn all three Grand Tour leader’s jerseys so if I take the Maglia Rosa it will be special. But, if I don’t get it on day one then hopefully there are more chances in the race. I’m never going to be bad in a time trial but I haven’t been specifically training for it. My focus has been on trying to come climb better after the fourth or fifth hour of racing.”

“I found out last year that anything can happen, even in the first couple of days, so I’m not too worried about the end result this year. I want to take things day by day. The first two weeks I can manage but the third week is a real unknown for me. This Giro d’Italia is about seeing where I am at with the training I have been doing.”

Alessandro De Marchi – ITA (2011, 2012, 2016):
“I'm at the start of my fourth Giro d'Italia and like always, I'm feeling the emotion of a race that will travel through my country. For an Italian, there's something special about being at the start. For me, the Giro is something special. It was my first Grand Tour, my first time close to a stage victory, and it's the race I remember more from my childhood. At this Giro, I want to be in my old role: breakaways and breakaways. I would like to be "in the race", to be in the moves, I want to feel the race every occasion I will have during the three weeks around Italy. I'm impatient to race the stages in Friuli, two days in my region on May 14th-15th.”

Jempy Drucker – LUX (First time racing):
“It is my first Giro d’italia and I have only heard good things about this race so I am really looking forward to discover the beautiful roads of Italy and the amazing tifosi fans on the side of the roads. Personally, I hope to do some good sprints and fight for a stage win. I know it wont be an easy target but I want to give it a good crack, and for the rest I will support my teammates wherever they need my help.”

Kilian Frankiny - SUI (First time racing):
“This is my first Giro d’Italia and I’m really looking forward to it because I love Italy. My personal objective is to help the team as much as possible. I think we can have a really good start with Rohan Dennis in the time trial and I hope he can get the pink jersey and I can help him to keep it for a few days. Regardless, I will be there to help our leaders on the climbs and I hope I can make a good stage result during the three weeks. To have the freedom to go in a breakaway one day would be really nice. But my priority is to help the team.”

Nicolas Roche - IRL (2007, 2014, 2016):
“I’m looking forward to getting the Giro d’Italia started. I want to race aggressively and see how I go in the General Classification. We always say we want to take things day by day, but in my case that really is the truth at this Giro. Typically, I’m better later in the season so I am keen to see how I go.”

Jürgen Roelandts – BEL (2016):
“This is my second time lining up at the Giro d’Italia and I would like to do some good sprints. I haven’t raced since Paris-Roubaix so I will see how I go in the first few days. There is always a bit less stress in the Giro d’Italia compared to the Tour de France. It’s a bit like Milan-San Remo, easier at the beginning but then explosive finals and I like that style of racing. I’m looking forward to seeing the start in Jerusalem and the stages in Israel.”

Francisco Ventoso – ESP (2005, 2011 (Winner stage 5), 2012 (Winner stage 8), 2013, 2014, 2017):
“I want to support the team and our leaders for the General Classification and take an opportunity for myself, maybe in the second week in a breakaway and try to fight for the stage win. This will be my seventh Giro d’Italia and for me, it is the most beautiful Grand Tour so I am really lucky to be racing. I hope for a good three weeks of racing and we will take things day by day, starting in Israel.”

Loïc Vliegen - BEL (First time racing):
“This is my first time at the Giro d’Italia and I’m really looking forward to discovering the race. I would like to take a lot of experience from it and try to make a breakaway. I will take things day by day and try to go in a breakaway on a stage that has a finale