cycling: Team Introductions 2018: BMC Racing Team

Cycling: The BMC Racing Team was up front in almost every race in 2017. Through Greg Van Avermaet, BMC not only won major one-day races, but also the UCI WorldTour ranking of riders. Who knows what else would have been possible if Richie Porte hadn't fallen at the Tour de France? Ifs, ifs, buts...what can we expect from the BMC Racing Team in 2018?

Golden Greg 2017 stronger than ever

The BMC Racing Team ended the 2017 season in third place in the UCI WorldTour Team Ranking. With Greg Van Avermaet, the team also has the driver with the best points of the season. The Belgian Olympic champion has finally made the leap to becoming a world-class rider. In the past he was only a driver for top places, but for more than a year now he can be described as a real winner. Van Avermaet's victories this season include the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, E2014 Harelbeke, Gent-Wevelgem and Paris-Roubaix one-day races. His good form did not suffer throughout the season. Overall victory at the Tour de Luxembourg followed, as well as places on the podium in stages of the Tour de France, the BinckBank Tour and the GP de Québec.

Despite a good season: Porte unlucky

You always have to reckon with the BMC Racing Team in the peloton. Many top-class riders in the squad at the Swiss bike manufacturer ensure that the jerseys can be seen at the front on almost any terrain. Only in mass sprints does BMC not have a good hand. While everything went according to plan for Greg Van Avermaet in 2017, Richie Porte is unlikely to end the season quite as happily. The Australian actually wanted to compete for victory in the Tour de France, but dropped out of the race early after a devastating fall on a descent. Up until this moment, 2017 seemed to be going to be a good year for him. Porte won the Tour Down Under, the Tour de Romandie and stages at the Critérium du Dauphiné and Paris-Nice. However, he still has no proof that he can actually compete for overall victory in a three-week tour. Rohan Dennis and Dylan Teuns, who are getting better and better at hilly and mountainous terrain, have also secretly developed into winners.

BMC is downsizing the roster

In terms of numbers, Team BMC will reduce its squad for the coming season. No departures are compared to only four arrivals, which is probably also due to the new UCI rules. Well-known professionals such as Martin Elmiger, Manuel Quinziato and Samuel Sanchez have already retired in the course of this year. For the 2018 season, other well-known drivers are leaving the BMC warehouse. While Manuel Senni and Floris Gerts don't leave a big gap, other losses weigh much heavier. Silvan Dillier has developed significantly over the past two years. Amael Moinard and Ben Hermans were always loyal and solid helpers when things got a little wavy. Daniel Oss is perhaps the hardest exit to compensate for. The Italian was particularly important for Greg Van Avermaet in the one-day races. Already in the course of the year Nathan Van Hooydonck joined the team from his own youth team, from whom no miracles are to be expected. However, qualitative reinforcements were also made. Jürgen Roelandts and Simon Gerrans will be a positive factor, mainly because of their experience in the one-day races. Alberto Bettiol and Patrick Bevin provide the necessary breadth in the squad and will probably have to do mostly volunteer work. So BMC did not commit new winners. However, with the driver material that is already predominant, this was not necessary.

Our classic red and black with a touch of blue! We're proud to present our 2018 racing kit made by @assos_com. #Ride_BMC pic.twitter.com/2LSp5JEGIJ

— BMC Racing Team (@BMCProTeam) 11 December 2017