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Paris - American outfit BMC on Friday announced the nine-man team it hopes will help Australian Cadel Evans take aim at the Tour de France yellow jersey over the coming weeks.
Evans is a former two-time runner-up of the world's toughest bike race but had a race to forget last year in what was his final stage race for former team Silence.
The reigning world road race champion, Evans will be joined by American George Hincapie and former world champion Alessandro Ballan of Italy for the team's debut outing on the July 3-25 race.
Joining the trio will be American Brent Bookwalter, German Marcus Burghardt, Swiss pair Mathias Frank and Steve Morabito, Dutchman Karsten Kroon and Italian Mauro Santambrogio.
Team manager John Lelangue, who was the manager of Phonak when American Floyd Landis won the race in 2006 only to be stripped of his title for doping, said the entire team would be devoted to Evans' cause.
"The best result for the BMC Racing Team is looking to the highest step on the podium," Lelangue said in a statement released by BMC.
"With Cadel, we come to the Tour clearly with one objective - one leader. All of the team will be focusing on supporting him."
Evans prepared for the Tour by racing the three-week Giro d'Italia, where he finished a commendable fifth overall.
The Australian said his season has gone well, but he hopes for more.
"Leading into the Tour, things seem to be coming together," Evans said.
"For me, the Giro was a bit more fatiguing than I expected, possible because of the health problems I encountered. We will see during the Tour how my alternative race program goes."
Going into his 15th Tour, during which he was part of all seven of Lance Armstrong's triumphant campaigns on the race, Hincapie's experience could prove very useful.
The American veteran could provide much needed support for Evans throughout the race, but particularly during a tricky first week.
"There are cobblestones in the mix and small roads and wind and possible bad weather conditions, so it can be very hectic," he said.
"I think the first week this year can blow the whole race wide open."
Ballan meanwhile missed the Giro after he was implicated in doping allegations.
The 2008 world champion was provisionally suspended by BMC, who then cleared the Italian after carrying out their own investigation.
Ballan said he is now on form and ready to support Evans.
"I was most worried about not returning in time to be selected for the Tour de France," Ballan said.
"I had hoped to help Cadel at the Giro but was unable to participate. Now I can work 100 percent for him at the Tour."
BMC:
Alessandro Ballan (ITA), Brent Bookwalter (USA), Marcus Burghardt (GER), Cadel Evans (AUS), Mathias Frank (SUI), George Hincapie (USA), Karsten Kroon (NED), Steve Morabito (SUI), Mauro Santambrogio (ITA)
