The roster the BMC Racing Team will field for the Tour du Haut Var is built to tame the terrain of southeastern France and motivated to get the team’s European campaign off to a good start.
‘Always Lots Of Attacking’
The two-day stage race’s roller-coaster climbs of the Provence region typically present the perfect platform for attacks, said BMC Racing Team Director Sportif John Lelangue. “It’s not a sprinter’s race and it’s not mountainous, but it’s a difficult stage race,” he said. “We’ll be looking to be on the offensive. There are always lots of attacks left and right.” While the BMC Racing Team did not contest the 2009 edition, Karsten Kroon did compete last year, finishing 50th overall. “We are taking a strong team and all of the guys are very motivated,” Lelangue said.
About The Race
Saturday’s opener is a 109-mile (175.6 km) race from La Croix-Valmer to Grimaud, followed by a 125-mile (200.7 km) race Sunday from Draguignan to Montauroux on a circuit that was traditionally used when the race was a single day. Thomas Voeckler (Bbox Bouygues Télécom) is the defending champion of the 42nd edition of the UCI 2.1 event that will be contested by 18 teams of eight riders each.
BMC Racing Team Roster
Brent Bookwalter (USA), Mathias Frank (SWI), Thomas Frei (SWI), Karsten Kroon (NED), Jeff Louder (USA), Steve Morabito (SWI), Mauro Santambrogio (ITA) and Florian Stalder (SWI).
Sports Directors
René Savary (SWI) and Jacques Michaud (FRA).
Staff
Mechanics: Andy Stone (USA), Nick Vandecauter (BEL), Soigneurs: Freddy Viaene (BEL), Chris De Vos (USA).