Without a General Classification contender, the team will have the freedom to take different opportunities, Sports Director Max Sciandri explained.

“We are not taking one of our clear GC guys so all of the riders will have the chance to jump in a breakaway, go for stage wins, and really take any opportunity that they see. Four of our nine riders are Italian so it’s always extra motivation to do well when you’re racing at the biggest race in your home country,” Sciandri said.

BMC Racing Team General Manager Jim Ochowicz said the Giro d’Italia course is well-suited to the team.

“The team is at the opening Grand Tour of the season and as always we are excited to race at the Giro d’Italia. We have a team made up of experienced riders and some of our younger guys too, and each rider will bring a different strength to the team. We’ll be primarily searching for stage wins and I hope we will have a successful Giro d’Italia,” Ochowicz confirmed.

Philippe Gilbert was originally set to race however a fractured finger sustained in April has ruled him out.

“Philippe’s finger is improving well however not at the rate necessary for him to be back at 100% for the Giro d’Italia and avoid any further damage. So from a medical standpoint it does not make sense to send him to a Grand Tour when he is not in the position to be really competitive,” BMC Racing Team Chief Medical Officer Dr. Max Testa said.

Giro d’Italia (6-29 May) 

Rider roster: Darwin Atapuma (COL), Alessandro De Marchi (ITA), Silvan Dillier (SUI), Stefan Küng (SUI), Daniel Oss (ITA), Manuel Quinziato (ITA), Joey Rosskopf (USA), Manuel Senni (ITA), Rick Zabel (GER).

Sports Directors: Max Sciandri (ITA), Fabio Baldato (ITA)