BMC Racing announce riders who will help Richie Porte to try and win Tour de France
Greg Van Avermaet, Simon Gerrans and Tejay van Garderen among eight-man BMC squad for the Tour
Richie Porte will be backed-up by a "strong and experienced" set of riders at the Tour de France 2018, as he finally looks to land a Grand Tour victory.
Porte has shown fine form in the build-up to the Tour, thriving in the week long stage races as he has done throughout his a career, including winning the Tour de Suisse earlier this month.
He enters the Tour with the tough task of stopping Chris Froome and Team Sky's victorious run at the race, with Movistar among the other teams fielding a very strong line-up. Porte looked in strong form during last year's race, but abandoned the race after a huge crash on the descent of the Mont du Chat on stage nine.
The 33-year-old will be supported by a formidable looking team for this year though, with Olympic road race champion Greg Van Avermaet the stand-out name in the BMC line-up.
Two-time fifth place finisher at the Tour Tejay van Garderen will also take to the start in support of Porte, as well will veteran Australian rider Simon Gerrans, who joined the team at the beginning of this year.
Italian Damiano Caruso, who finished fifth overall at the recent Critérium du Dauphiné, will play a pivotal role in the mountains for Porte deeper into the race.
The American team, who regularly dominate team time trials like the one that features on stage three of this year's Tour, bring a strong unit of Swiss duo Stefan Küng and Michael Schär as well as New Zealand's Patrick Bevin to complete the squad.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
"I'm ready for the Tour de France," said Porte.
"Winning the Tour de Suisse was a big boost to my confidence, not only on a personal level knowing I wasn't yet in my best shape but also for the team.
"The guys were fantastic there and the fact that our Tour de France team is comprised more or less of the same riders, with the addition of Damiano Caruso and Paddy Bevin, is really motivating.
"After a solid training camp at altitude, I will arrive in the Vendée region knowing I have done everything I can to prepare for the Tour de France."
"I would love to stand on the podium in Paris," he continued.
"As we saw last year, anything can happen so as cliché as it sounds, I really will be taking things day by day, week by week.
"As controlled as the Tour de France is compared to other races, it's a bike race and with that comes a lot of unpredictability. I think we have a great team, it's generally a good course for me, and I'm excited to start racing."
BMC Racing line-up for Tour de France 2018
Richie Porte (Aus)
Patrick Bevin (NZl)
Damiano Caruso (Ita)
Simon Gerrans (Aus)
Stefan Küng (Sui)
Michael Schär (Sui)
Greg Van Avermaet (Bel)
Tejay van Garderen (USA)
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Follow on Twitter: @richwindy
Richard is digital editor of Cycling Weekly. Joining the team in 2013, Richard became editor of the website in 2014 and coordinates site content and strategy, leading the news team in coverage of the world's biggest races and working with the tech editor to deliver comprehensive buying guides, reviews, and the latest product news.
An occasional racer, Richard spends most of his time preparing for long-distance touring rides these days, or getting out to the Surrey Hills on the weekend on his Specialized Tarmac SL6 (with an obligatory pub stop of course).
-
Chinese X-Lab vies for global domination as it equips XDS Astana with bikes for the WorldTour
A new partnership sees Astana aboard new bikes with increased funding for 2025
By Joe Baker Published
-
Tech of the week: Van Rysel releases an aero bike (quelle surprise!) plus a superlight carbon crankset from FSA, a long top tube bag from Tailfin and tyre liners from Zefal
The RCR-F aero bike will be ridden by the Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale team in 2025, but will it create headlines like the RCR?
By Luke Friend Published
-
Intermarché-Circus-Wanty riders fined and sent to education course after racist gesture
Madis Mihkels and Gerben Thijssen sanctioned after incident at the Tour of Guangxi
By Adam Becket Published
-
Intermarché-Circus-Wanty riders apologise after being withdrawn from race over racist gesture
Madis Mihkels and Gerben Thijssen sent home from Tour of Guangxi after social media post of racist gesture
By Adam Becket Published
-
Biniam Girmay shares photo of eye-catching new helmet design
Eritrean rider shares image of new boxing cork design on cafe stop during training ride
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Richie Porte forced to abandon Giro d'Italia with illness
Ineos Grenadiers lose key domestique on stage 19
By Adam Becket Published
-
How the team with the smallest budget in the WorldTour is overtaking the competition: The rise of Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert
The Belgian team has been punching above their weight all season
By Adam Becket Published
-
Biniam Girmay's stage 11 start in question after podium mishap
Eritrean stage-winner injured his eye with a cork during podium celebrations
By Adam Becket Last updated
-
'Unbelievable': Biniam Girmay seizes opportunity in watershed moment for cycling
Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert rider becomes first Eritrean Grand Tour stage winner
By Adam Becket Published
-
Racing every race like it's the last of the season: how smaller teams are overperforming this year
Lotto-Soudal and Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux have won 11 races between them in 2022 after just 21 in all of last year, so what's going on?
By Adam Becket Published