Team BMC announced its final roster for the La Fleche-Wallonne 2012
Team BMC has decided to rest Cadel Evans for the remaining classic races, La Fleche-Wallonne and the Liege-Bastogne-Liege.
The cyclist struggled during the Amstel Gold Race and could not finish the race because of health issues. Evans is suffering from sinus infection and will continue the recovery process to ensure his best form ahead of the Tour de France 2012.
The 2011 season brought many victories for the Australian along with the biggest win of his career, an overall victory at the Tour de France 2011.
The 35-year-old rode brilliantly to restrict the Schleck brothers for the second and the third positions. He finished the race in a total time of 86 hours, 12 minutes and 22 seconds.
Andy Schleck finished 1 minute and 34 seconds behind at the second position with his brother Frank further 56 seconds behind at the third spot.
Max Testa is the team’s Chief Medical Officer and he has suggested that Evans should not risk his health for the coming races.
He stated, “Cadel was coming here with the objective to help them. That was always the plan. We know his main objective is in a few months in July”.
"Therefore he has to make a good Tour of Romandie. It will be a good test in real stage race conditions - with a time trial, prologue and mountain stages," he concluded.
The American team will be built around the Belgian cyclist, Philippe Gilbert in Cadel’s absence.
Team’s Sports Director John Lelangue explained, "We still have a good field around Philippe Gilbert, who finished sixth Sunday at Amstel Gold Race and Greg Van Avermaet to make two good Ardennes races".
Gilbert succeeded during all the three races of the Ardennes Classics in the past season and he is determined to find form during the coming version of the race.
He has struggled during the first part of the season and is optimistic to find his 2011 winning momentum during the La Fleche Wallonne and the Liege-Bastogne-Liege, scheduled on April 18 and April 22.
Gilbert has not registered any wins in the current season and his only commendable performance came during the Amstel Gold Race.
A total number of eight cyclists to represent Team BMC at the La Fleche-Wallonne are, Brent Bookwalter, Michael Schär, Greg Van Avermaet, Tejay van Garderen, Philippe Gilbert, Martin Kohler, Klaas Lodewyck and Mauro Santambrogio.
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