Earlier this morning it was announced that Belgian national road and time trial champion Philippe Gilbert will join Team BMC Racing for the 2012 season, further bolstering a significantly strengthened roster that will include reigning Tour de France champion Cadel Evans, Thor Hushovd, and a number of past world road champions.

Gilbert has signed a three year contract with Team BMC Racing from 2012 through 2014.

According to Team BMC Racing General Manager Jim Ochowicz finds Philippe Gilbert to be a gifted athlete who brings an immense amount of talent to the team.

"He will act as one of our leaders during the classics and other races throughout the season," Ochowicz told Roadcycling.com and Roadcycling.mobi and added "His power and tenacity will play a big role in support of Cadel's defense of his Tour de France title. Additionally, his experience will be shared in a mentorship role to the younger riders on the team like Taylor Phinney and Greg Van Avermaet as they continue to develop their skills in the classics."

Unbelievably effective and impressive Gilbert has already won more than a dozen races this season, including the first stage of the Tour de France and a host of one-day classics, including Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Flèche Wallonne, Amstel Gold and Clasica San Sebastian. Throughout the Tour de France he remained animating and motivated.

What attracted him to the BMC Team, he says, was the team's early interest - before he started winning. "They were interested in me from the beginning," Gilbert said and continued "Plus, I know the team well. They are well-organized, very professional and a close group."

Gilbert also stated that he is looking very much forward to helping at the Tour de France, which starts next year in his home country. "My objectives are clear. To go for the one-day classics and then go to the Tour to learn and help Cadel (Evans). Next year with the start in Liege, it's close to my home. So I will try to win a stage and then help Cadel win the Tour."

Evans said he is excited by the prospect of having a former Omega Pharma-Lotto teammate help him make a run at a second straight Tour de France title. "I'm happy to be back with one of my old teammates. We've always remained friends, but now we get to be teammates again and that's fantastic," Evans commented and added "I suspect I'll be a domestique in the Ardennes week, but I look forward to it and it will be a pleasure."

Philippe Gilbert is currently ranked 2nd in the UCI world rankings. Tour de France winner Evans is ranked 1st.

Details of Gilbert's three-year contract have not been disclosed.