John Lelangue still has faith in Philippe Gilbert
Team BMC is not having the best of its seasons and has struggled to register a win during the current year.
The American team is amongst the most expensive sides riding the 2012 season and has some of the high profile cyclists in its squad.
The two top cyclists on the UCI World Tour ranking for the 2011 season, Philippe Gilbert and Cadel Evans are on Team BMC’s roster.
Cadel Evans succeeded at the 2011 version of the Tour de France and is targeting the French race as the biggest goal of his 2012 season.
On the other hand, Philippe Gilbert also accepted an offer from the American team after spending a time of three years with Team Lotto (2009-2011).
The team also has the likes of Alessandro Ballan, Adam Blythe, Steve Cummings, George Hincapie, Thor Hushovd, Martin Kohler, Taylor Phinney, Marco Pinotti, Tejay van Garderen and Greg Van Avermaet.
Team BMC was looking towards Philippe Gilbert to help it with its first victory of the 2012 season but the Belgian is currently struggling with his form.
Gilbert had to abandon the Tirreno-Adriatico because of his health issues, which ended the team’s hopes for the Italian event.
Team Manager John Lelangue is optimistic that Gilbert will find his form in the season to repeat his 2011 performance.
He told Sporza, “There’s no reason to dramatise it, Philippe is a man like you and me. He’s suffered from a virus and a fever. He was advised not to start so he pulled out”.
“This changes nothing of our faith in Philippe. He keeps our full confidence and this off-day won’t jeopardize the entire preparation. Illness, like wind and crashes, is a fact of cycling,” he continued.
Greg Van Avermaet of Team BMC came close to victory at the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and the Strade Bianche but missed the podium on both the occasions.
Avermaet finished 9th during the recent version of the Milan-San Remo and the team is hopeful that he will take his performance to the next level during the 2012 version of the race.
The 102nd edition of the Italian race is scheduled on March 17th and Team BMC is badly in need of a victory to start its winning ways in the current season.
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