BMC Racing Team Has Several Goals For Tour de San Luis

Targeting the individual time trial as well as the overall classification are just a few of the BMC Racing Team’s goals for the Tour de San Luis.

California Training Camp Helpful
The seven-day race begins Monday and includes three uphill finishes, plus Friday’s 19.2-km time trial. BMC Racing Team Sport Director Jackson Stewart said a camp last week in Southern California provided four of the team’s six riders – Taylor Phinney, Larry Warbasse and newcomers Darwin Atapuma and Peter Stetina – with a solid training block.

“It was a good group, with good weather and good training rides,” Stewart said. “A lot of what we saw from them at camp re-confirmed the data we had seen from them in training.”

Stewart said Atapuma, Stetina, Warbasse and Dominik Nerz could all contend for the overall in Argentina.

Atapuma, who has never raced this early in six years as a professional, said he feels ready to go. “I had good training at home in Colombia and at camp,” he said. “My condition is good and this race will be a good test for my climbing. I hope not to lose too much time in the time trial so I can take advantage of the three uphill finishes.”

Phinney said he aims to win the time trial or one of the three less mountainous stages after enjoying injury-free training this winter. “I have always struggled with injuries in the offseason, mainly due to cold weather, changes in bike position and not making use of the available therapy,” the past U.S. national time trial champion said. “But I have been able to knock out every training day and I owe that to having hired my own personal soigneur, plus being a couple years older and not growing anymore.”

BMC Racing Team Tour de San Luis Roster (Jan. 20-26):

Darwin Atapuma (COL), Dominik Nerz (GER), Taylor Phinney (USA), Manuel Quinziato (ITA), Peter Stetina (USA), Larry Warbasse (USA).

Sport Director:
Jackson Stewart (USA)

Doctor:
Dario Spinelli (ITA)

Press Officer:
Andrea Agostini (ITA)

Staff:
Mechanics: Kevin Grove (USA), Ian Sherburne (USA). Soigneurs: Chris De Vos (BEL), Geert Tiebergijn (BEL).