The BMC Racing Team will compete in four races in a five-day span later this week to provide some riders with a final opportunity to hone their form in advance of the UCI world road championships, which begin Sunday with the team time trial.
Gilbert To Race Three Times
World road champion Philippe Gilbert will compete in three of the four races: GP de Wallonie on Wednesday (as previously announced), Grand Prix Impanis-Van Petegem on Saturday and Grand Prix d’Isbergues on Sunday. Greg Van Avermaet, who finished third Friday at Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec City and fourth Sunday at Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal, will race at Wallonie and at Isbergues. “The races in Belgium and France this coming week provide the perfect final preparation races for reigning world champion Philippe Gilbert and Greg Van Avermaet,” Performance Manager Allan Peiper said. “It is also a good chance for neo-pros like Larry Warbasse and Sebastian Lander to try for a top result.” Warbasse will start all four races, including Kampioenschap van Vlaanderen on Friday. In a change to the previously-announced roster for GP de Wallonie, stagiaire Silvan Dillier – who has signed a pro contract with the BMC Racing Team for 2014 – replaces Swiss national road champion Michael Schär. The four race rosters:
GP de Wallonie (Wednesday):
Silvan Dillier (SUI), Yannick Eijssen (BEL), Mathias Frank (SUI), Philippe Gilbert (BEL), Jakub Novak (CZE), Julien Taramarcaz (SUI), Greg Van Avermaet (BEL), Larry Warbasse (USA).
Kampioenschap van Vlaanderen (Friday):
Marcus Burghardt (GER), Silvan Dillier (SUI), Sebastian Lander (DEN), Klaas Lodewyck (BEL), Jakub Novak (CZE), Julien Taramarcaz (SUI), Larry Warbasse (USA), Danilo Wyss (SUI).
Grand Prix Impanis-Van Petegem (Saturday):
Yannick Eijssen (BEL), Philippe Gilbert (BEL), Sebastian Lander (DEN), Klaas Lodewyck (BEL), Dominik Nerz (GER), Julien Taramarcaz (SUI), Larry Warbasse (USA), Danilo Wyss (SUI).
Grand Prix d’Isbergues (Sunday):
Marcus Burghardt (GER), Silvan Dillier (SUI), Yannick Eijssen (BEL), Philippe Gilbert (BEL), Dominik Nerz (GER), Jakub Novak (CZE), Greg Van Avermaet (BEL), Larry Warbasse (USA).