BMC Racing Team to Start Vuelta a Espana with Two Leaders

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08/21/2014| 0 comments
by Roadcycling.com
Samuel Sanchez Fotoreporter Sirotti

BMC Racing Team to Start Vuelta a Espana with Two Leaders

Past Vuelta a Espana podium finishers Cadel Evans and Samuel Sánchez will share the team leader role in the final grand tour of the 2014 season.

Former Tour de France Champion Evans finished third in his latest appearance in the Spanish race in 2009, following up on a fourth-place finish in 2007. The past world road champion is traveling to the Vuelta a Espana fresh off back-to-back stage wins and a sixth place general classification finish at this year's Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah.

Sánchez was runner-up in 2009 and third in 2007, while also taking three stage victories. The 2008 Olympic road race champion also counts a third-place finish at the 2010 Tour de France among his remarkable fourteen grand tour appearances.

BMC Racing Team Sport Director Valerio Piva said Sánchez will one of the team's leaders. "Cadel (Evans) will also be a protected rider, like we did for Samuel (Sanchez) at the Giro d'Italia," Piva explained.

"Samuel is an experienced rider, he knows the parcours and he is super-motivated. Cadel comes out of Utah very strong, which will be very important. And we cannot forget Philippe Gilbert, who specializes in the uphill finishes. So we will try to win a stage with him."

Gilbert, the 2012 world road cycling champion, is owner of five stage wins at the Vuelta. The 3,239-kilometer race begins Saturday with a team time trial and concludes Sept. 14 with a 9.7-kilometer individual time trial.

BMC Racing Team's Vuelta a Espana line-up also features Rohan Dennis in his second appearance for BMC since his mid-season move from Team Garmin-Sharp-POC.

Team BMC Racing Roster for Vuelta a España 2014:
Cadel Evans (AUS), Samuel Sánchez (ESP), Rohan Dennis (AUS), Philippe Gilbert (BEL), Steve Morabito (SUI), Dominik Nerz (GER), Manuel Quinziato (ITA), Larry Warbasse (USA), Danilo Wyss (SUI).

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