2011 BMC Racing Team season

none 2011 BMC Racing Team season Manager John Lelangue One-day victories 1 Stage race overall victories 4 Stage race stage victories 6 Previous season • Next season The 2011 season for the BMC 2011 began in January with the Tour Down Under and ended in October at the Giro di Lombardia. As a UCI ProTeam, they were automatically invited and obligated to send a squad to every event in the UCI World Tour. Team captain Cadel Evans provided the majority of their victories in 2011, most notably the overall crown at the Tour de France. Twice a runner-up at that race, and at age 34 the oldest post-World War II winner, Evans took used a different race program than he had in previous years. He rode relatively few races prior to the Tour, though he was also the overall victor at Tirreno–Adriatico and the Tour de Romandie. Though often considered to be a team with a strong classics pedigree, and active in most races with several top tens, they did not win any single-day race in the spring season. Greg Van Avermaet won the late-season Paris–Tours, along with two stages in stage races earlier in the season. The team's ostensible classics leader, Italian Alessandro Ballan, did not win any race in 2011 and was again briefly suspended from racing pursuant to the ongoing Mantova doping investigation, as he had been in 2010. 2011 roster Ages as of January 1, 2011. Alessandro Ballan ITA 2011 1 1 1979 11 6 Chris Barton USA 2011 1 1 1988 6 7 Chad Beyer USA 2011 1 1 1986 8 15 Brent Bookwalter USA 2011 1 1 1984 2 16 Marcus Burghardt GER 2011 1 1 1983 6 30 Chris Butler USA 2011 1 1 1988 2 16 Yannick Eijssen BEL 2011 1 1 1989 6 26 Cadel Evans AUS 2011 1 1 1977 2 14 Mathias Frank SUI 2011 1 1 1986 12 9 George Hincapie USA 2011 1 1 1973 6 29 Martin Kohler SUI 2011 1 1 1985 07 17 Alexander Kristoff NOR 2011 1 1 1987 7 5 Karsten Kroon NED 2011 1 1 1976 1 29 Jeff Louder USA 2011 1 1 1977 12 8 Amaël Moinard FRA 2011 1 1 1982 2 2 Steve Morabito SUI 2011 1 1 1983 1 30 John Murphy USA 2011 1 1 1984 12 15 Taylor Phinney USA 2011 1 1 1990 6 27 Manuel Quinziato ITA 2011 1 1 1979 10 30 Timothy Roe AUS 2011 1 1 1989 10 28 Mauro Santambrogio ITA 2011 1 1 1984 10 7 Ivan Santaromita ITA 2011 1 1 1984 4 30 Michael Schär SUI 2011 1 1 1986 9 29 Johann Tschopp SUI 2011 1 1 1982 7 1 Greg Van Avermaet BEL 2011 1 1 1985 5 17 Danilo Wyss SUI 2011 1 1 1985 8 26 Simon Zahner SUI 2011 1 1 1983 3 8 Riders who joined the team for the 2011 season Rider2010 teamYannick Eijssenneo-prohttps://www.cyclingnews.com/news/eijssen-signs-with-bmc-for-two-years Eijssen signs with BMC for two years Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 14 July 2010 26 October 2011Amaël MoinardCOF 2010https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/moinard-to-bmc Moinard to BMC Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 9 July 2010 26 October 2011Taylor Phinneystagiaire (RSH 2010)http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/5755/Phinney-enthusiastic-after-signing-pro-contract-with-BMC-Racing-Team.aspx Phinney enthusiastic after signing pro contract with BMC Racing Team Andrews, Conal Velonation 22 September 2010 26 October 2011Manuel QuinziatoLIQ 2010https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/bmc-announce-six-new-signings-for-2011 BMC announce six new signings for 2011 Ryan, Barry Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 1 September 2010 26 October 2011Timothy RoeTrek-Livestronghttp://www.velonation.com/News/ID/5778/Transfer-News-Tim-Roe-follows-Taylor-Phinney-to-BMC-Racing.aspx Transfer News Tim Roe follows Taylor Phinney to BMC Racing Atkins, Ben Velonation 24 September 2010 26 October 2011Ivan SantaromitaLIQ 2010Johann TschoppBBO 2010Greg Van AvermaetOLO 2010 Riders who left the team during or after the 2010 season Rider2011 teamThomas FreiSuspendedhttps://www.cyclingnews.com/news/frei-confesses-to-epo-usage-and-is-released-by-bmc Frei confesses to EPO usage and is released by BMC Westemeyer, Susan Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 28 April 2010 26 October 2011Cole HouseRealcyclist.comhttps://www.cyclingnews.com/news/house-looks-to-build-with-realcyclist-com House looks to build with RealCyclist.com Benson, Daniel Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 15 December 2010 26 October 2011Jackson StewartRetiredhttp://www.usprocyclingnews.com/2010/12/bmc-racing-2011-transfers/ BMC Racing 2011 Changes US Pro Cycling News 30 December 2010 26 October 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110717180936/http://www.usprocyclingnews.com/2010/12/bmc-racing-2011-transfers/ 2011-07-17 dead Alexandre MoosBMC Mountain Bikinghttps://www.cyclingnews.com/news/moos-moves-to-bmc-mtb-team Moos moves to BMC MTB team Westemeyer, Susan Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 5 November 2010 26 October 2011Florian StalderRetiredhttps://www.cyclingnews.com/news/stalder-retires-after-six-years-on-the-pro-circuit Stalder retires after six years on the pro circuit Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 4 January 2011 26 October 2011Scott NydamRetired One-day races Spring classics BMC was active at two of the traditional season-opening races, attaining seventh place with Ballan in the Italian opener Trofeo Laigueglia,Barry Ryan https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/48th-trofeo-laigueglia-1-1/results Pietropolli sprints to win in Trofeo Laigueglia 2011-02-19 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-11-05 and eighth with Quinziato in the Belgian opener, Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.Brecht Decaluwé https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/66th-omloop-het-nieuwsblad-elite-1-hc/results Langeveld wins Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2011-02-26 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-11-05 Ballan narrowly missed victory a week later at Montepaschi Strade Bianche, finishing second at the line behind Philippe Gilbert. Ballan acknowledged that Gilbert and not he had used the optimal tactics in the final sprint, but felt nonetheless pleased with his early-season form. The two had been part of a 19-rider group that made all the selections through the sectors of unpaved roads before the finish on cobblestones in Siena.Cycling News https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/strade-bianche-1-1/results Gilbert sparkles on Strade Bianche 2011-03-05 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-11-05 At the first monument race of the season, Milan–San Remo, BMC was one of only two teams to have more than three riders present in the leading group on the road after a crash on the Le Manie climb 90 km us from the finish effectively split the field in two. With both teams lacking field sprinters, and with sprinters Tom Boonen, Alessandro Petacchi, and Heinrich Haussler surviving the split, BMC captain Ballan and LIQ 2011's Vincenzo Nibali struck a deal that they would each send men to the front of the lead group to help keep it away from the sprinters left behind in the second group, and dislodge the sprinters in the first group if possible.Barry Ryan https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/nibali-looked-to-eliminate-sprinters-on-le-manie-at-milan-san-remo Nibali looked to eliminate sprinters on Le Manie at Milan-San Remo 2011-03-20 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-03-21 The tactic worked; with domestiques from both these teams, plus OLO 2011, pulling at the head of the leading group, they kept their lead through to the end of the race. Ballan, and Nibali, later figured into a crucial eight-rider selection that took place on the Poggio just a few kilometers from the end of the 298 km us day of racing. Those eight riders represented eight different teams, so no one had a teammate to perform a proper leadout. After Nibali, Gilbert, and FDJ 2011's Yoann Offredo opened up the sprint, Ballan was gapped off momentarily and could manage only fourth behind race winner Matthew Goss. Van Avermaet had also been with the first group after the split on Le Manie, and occupied first position on the road for the kilometers between the Cipressa and the descent from the Poggio, before he was caught by the select group of eight that finished together at the head of the race. Barry Ryan http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/milan-san-remo-his/results Goss wins Milan-San Remo 2011-03-19 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-03-21 https://web.archive.org/web/20110322025205/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/milan-san-remo-his/results 2011-03-22 dead At the second monument, the Tour of Flanders, BMC was noted to be bringing a strong squad, headed by Ballan and Hincapie.Cycling News https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-of-flanders-upt/preview Cancellara the man to beat at Tour of Flanders 2011-04-03 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-04-09John Wilcockson http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/04/news/tour-of-flanders-can-fabian-cancellara-do-what-eddy-merckx-couldn%E2%80%99t_166475 Tour of Flanders: Can Fabian Cancellara do what Eddy Merckx couldn't? 2011-04-02 VeloNews Competitor Group, Inc. 2011-04-09 2011-04-05 https://web.archive.org/web/20110405170148/http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/04/news/tour-of-flanders-can-fabian-cancellara-do-what-eddy-merckx-couldn%E2%80%99t_166475 dead Burghardt and Van Avermaet went on the attack in the early portions of the race, only to be brought back after a short while. When Fabian Cancellara put in an attack on the Leberg, the day's fourteenth cobbled climb, and quickly took a sizable time gap, it was the BMC team which organized the chase to bring him back. They placed four riders into a seven-rider chase group and succeeded in bringing Cancellara back, something which has usually not happened to him in classics races. A further two riders had remained at the head of the peloton, giving them six riders at the front of the race when Cancellara was caught.Cycling News https://www.cyclingnews.com/features/winners-and-losers-from-the-tour-of-flanders Winners and losers from the Tour of Flanders 2011-04-04 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-04-09 Cancellara put in another move on the Muur van Geraardsbergen and was followed only by Sylvain Chavanel and eventual race winner Nick Nuyens. Hincapie finished with the group 5 seconds back for sixth place on the day.Brecht Decaluwé https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-of-flanders-upt/results Nuyens makes his big break through 2011-04-03 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-04-09 Kristoff rode to seventh place in the sprinters' classic Scheldeprijs later in April, back of three-time winner Mark Cavendish.Cycling News https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/scheldeprijs-1-hc/results Cavendish prevails in Scheldeprijs 2011-04-06 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-11-05 Ballan also rode to a top-ten placing at the third monument, Paris–Roubaix. He and Thor Hushovd marked the accelerations of odds-on favorite Cancellara throughout the day and, with both having teammates up the road in breakaway groups, did not contribute any work. This led to the lightly heralded Johan Vansummeren from Hushovd's GRM 2011 team winning the race from a solo escape, but Ballan was able to finish sixth by staying with Cancellara as best he could, losing contact only when Cancellara put in his most strenuous attack near the finish. Brecht Decaluwé http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/paris-roubaix-his/results Van Summeren solos to gutsy victory at Paris-Roubaix 2011-04-10 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-04-11 https://web.archive.org/web/20110412011131/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/paris-roubaix-his/results 2011-04-12 dead The race came just days after Ballan was again named in the ongoing Mantova doping investigation as a rider who may have perpetrated blood doping while riding for his former team Lampre.Barry Ryan https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/ballan-accused-of-undergoing-blood-transfusion Ballan accused of undergoing blood transfusion 2011-04-09 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-04-12 Unlike in 2010, when these accusations broke, BMC chose not to suspend Ballan from competition. Ballan felt his suspension in 2010 was because the team had not yet attained the highest level in the sport and had to rely on wildcard invitations to attend top-level races. In 2011, they had attained UCI ProTeam status and were therefore guaranteed these invites.Barry Ryan https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/ballan-looking-to-put-past-two-seasons-behind-him Ballan looking to put past two seasons behind him 2011-02-13 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-04-12 However, team president Jim Ochowicz denied that this was the case, saying that the team had cleared Ballan in 2010 and that the 2011 accusations were not new and therefore did not require any action on their part.Barry Ryan https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/bmc-management-defends-ballan-decision BMC management defends Ballan decision 2011-04-11 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-04-12 However, Ballan and Santambrogio were indeed suspended and later reactivated around the time of the Giro d'Italia. Van Avermaet was the team's top finisher at each of the Ardennes classics, though he did not come especially close to victory in any of them, finishing 24th at the 2011 Amstel Gold Race,Cycling News https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/amstel-gold-race-upt/results Gilbert repeats at Amstel Gold Race 2011-04-17 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-11-05 16th at La Flèche Wallonne,Brecht Decaluwé http://www.cyclingnews.com/la-fleche-wallonne/results Gilbert takes audacious victory atop Mur de Huy 2011-04-20 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-11-05 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20130420164422/http://www.cyclingnews.com/la-fleche-wallonne/results 2013-04-20 and seventh at Liège–Bastogne–Liège, the fourth monument. Brecht Decaluwé http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/liege-bastogne-liege-his/results Gilbert the great! 2011-04-24 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-11-05 https://web.archive.org/web/20110427052944/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/liege-bastogne-liege-his/results 2011-04-27 dead BMC's record at the early-season single day races ended with a series of near misses in May and June. Murphy, an essentially unknown rider on the international scene, was the sixth-place finisher at the inaugural ProRace Berlin. BMC and LEO 2011 were the only top-level professional teams in the race.Cycling News https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/prorace-berlin-1-1/results Kittel wins ProRace Berlin 2011-05-22 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-11-05 Santambrogio was second at the Giro della Toscana, losing out to GRM 2011's Dan Martin in the uphill final sprint.Cycling News https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-della-toscana-2011/results Dan Martin takes Tuscan triumph 2011-06-19 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-11-05 Van Avermaet narrowly missed the podium at Halle–Ingooigem, losing the sprint for third place to FDJ 2011's Gianni Meersman and taking fourth on the day.Cycling News https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/halle-ingooigem-2011/results Cuvers nabs Halle-Ingooigem ivctory 2011-06-22 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-11-05 The team also sent squads to the Classica Sarda, Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne, the Giro del Friuli, Dwars door Vlaanderen, Gent–Wevelgem, and Brabantse Pijl, but finished no higher than 13th in any of these races. Fall races Van Avermaet opened the team's later season with a podium finish at the Clásica de San Sebastián, winning a seven-rider sprint for third place 14 seconds back of the day's winner Philippe Gilbert.Barry Ryan https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/clasica-ciclista-san-sebastian-upt/results Gilbert's stunning season continues with San Sebastian victory 2011-07-30 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-11-05 Much like he had earlier in the season at Scheldeprijs, Kristoff finished in the top ten but not especially close to victory at the sprinters' classic Paris–Brussels in September, taking seventh place in a 46-rider sprint.Barry Ryan https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/parijs-brusssel-paris-bruxelles-1-hc-2/results Galimzyanov prevails in Paris-Bruxelles 2011-09-10 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-11-05 He turned in a similar performance a week later at the Championship of Flanders, seventh from a 55-rider sprint,Cycling News https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/kampioenschap-van-vlaanderen-1-1-2/results Kittel tops Greipel in Koolskamp 2011-09-16 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-11-05 and two days hence at the Grand Prix d'Isbergues with fifth from a group of 57.Cycling News https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/grand-prix-disbergues-pas-de-calais-1-1-2/results Jorgensen edges O'Grady to win Isbergues 2011-09-18 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-11-05 He also added a second place, again in a large sprint, at the Grand Prix de Fourmies.Cycling News https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/gp-de-fourmies-la-voix-du-nord-1-hc-2/results Blot tops GP de Fourmies 2011-09-11 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-11-05 Murphy took his second top-ten finish of the year at the Omloop van het Houtland, with sixth place in a breakaway sprint behind Guillaume Van Keirsbulck of QST 2011.Cycling News https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/omloop-van-het-houtland-lichtervelde-1-1-2/results Van Keirsbulck fastest of breakaway in Lichtervelde 2011-09-21 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-11-05 Van Avermaet and Phinney finished at the front of the race in Binche–Tournai–Binche, though neither threatened for victory, finishing seventh and 13th in the 13-rider lead group.Cycling News https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/binche-tournai-binche-1-1-1/results Selig sprints to victory 2011-10-04 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-11-05 Van Avermaet took the team's lone single-day victory of the season at Paris–Tours. Despite the expectation that the race would come down to a sprint finish, Susan Westemeyer http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/paris-tours-1-hc-1/paris-tours/preview Paris-Tours: One for the sprinters 2011-10-04 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-11-05 https://web.archive.org/web/20111012050704/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/paris-tours-1-hc-1/paris-tours/preview 2011-10-12 dead Van Avermaet and other attackers provided for a different sort of finish. The sprinters' teams worked to chase down the morning breakaway, but the only effect this actually had was allowing Van Avermaet, and others, a shorter distance to bridge from the main field up to the front of the race. The leading group's advantage over the peloton never exceeded two minutes, but it proved to be enough as Van Avermaet took the win ahead of VCD 2011's Marco Marcato, with the next rider a further 15 seconds down.Cycling News https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/paris-tours-1-hc-1/results Van Avermaet victorious in Paris-Tours 2011-10-09 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-11-05 Van Avermaet was also the team's best finisher at the Italian races which traditionally conclude the season. He just missed out on victory at the Giro del Piemonte, finishing second of 11 riders in a breakaway sprint behind Daniel Moreno of KAT 2011.Cycling News https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-del-piemonte-1-hc-1/results Moreno wins Gran Piemonte 2011-10-13 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-11-05 He was more distant, 12th, in the Giro di Lombardia, though this was nonetheless a strong result for him due to that race's much hillier profile.Daniel Friebe http://www.cyclingnews.com/giro-di-lombardia/results Zaugg solos to win in Lombardia 2011-10-15 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-11-05 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20120523014636/http://www.cyclingnews.com/giro-di-lombardia/results 2012-05-23 The team also sent squads to Vattenfall Cyclassics, the GP Ouest-France, the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal, the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec, and the Grand Prix de Wallonie, but finished no higher than 14th in any of these races. Stage races thumb|left|alt=A man in his late twenties, wearing a red, black, and white cycling jersey.|New acquisition Greg Van Avermaet won the points classification at the Tour of Austria, the overall classification at the Tour de Wallonie, and stages at both events. Evans took the team's first wins at Tirreno–Adriatico. Despite the fact that he had raced only two days prior to Tirreno–Adriatico on the 2011 season, as part of a planned light program meant to culminate in victory at the Tour de France,Ben Atkins http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/7602/Light-spring-programme-for-Cadel-Evans-as-he-makes-bid-to-be-the-oldest-post-war-Tour-de-France-winner.aspx Light spring programme for Cadel Evans as he makes bid to be the oldest post-war Tour de France winner 2011-02-28 VeloNation VeloNation LLC 2011-03-16 Evans showed fine form at the race of the two seas. He finished near the front of the race in the first two hilly stages, both of them 240 km us in length, and took the race lead after the second of them. Stephen Farrand http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/46th-tirreno-adriatico-his/stage-5/results Gilbert snatches victory in Castelraimondo 2011-03-13 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-03-16 https://web.archive.org/web/20110316051334/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/46th-tirreno-adriatico-his/stage-5/results 2011-03-16 dead The next day, he won the stage into Macerata, extending his race lead to nine seconds. Cycling News http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/46th-tirreno-adriatico-his/stage-6/results Evans mashes to stage win in Macerata 2011-03-14 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-03-16 https://web.archive.org/web/20110316051337/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/46th-tirreno-adriatico-his/stage-6/results 2011-03-16 dead With only a very short individual time trial remaining, and the riders directly behind Evans in the overall standings lesser than him in time trial skills, nine seconds was a significant advantage. Evans managed only 12th in the 9.3 km 1 us race against the clock that closed out the race, but this was easily enough to preserve his overall victory.Stephen Farrand http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/46th-tirreno-adriatico-his/stage-7/results Cancellara crushes final Tirreno stage 2011-03-15 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-03-16 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20110318172554/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/46th-tirreno-adriatico-his/stage-7/results 2011-03-18 In April, Evans won the Tour de Romandie without winning any stage. His greatest time win came in the stage 4 individual time trial. Sitting third at that point, he finished eighth on the day and took sufficient time to overtake Pavel Brutt and Alexander Vinokourov to move into the race lead.Cycling News https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-romandie-upt/stage-4/results Zabriskie powers to Romandie time trial 2011-04-30 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-05-02 The flat final stage provided for no meaningful changes to the overall standings, securing Evans' win.Cycling News https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-romandie-upt/stage-5/results Sky's Geneva convention guides Swift to victory 2011-05-01 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-05-02 While he did not win anything at the Critérium du Dauphiné, Evans showed strongly at that race as well. While Bradley Wiggins proved by far the strongest of the overall classification riders in the stage 3 individual time trial, Evans' sixth place on the day moved him up to second overall. Cycling News http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/criterium-du-dauphine-upt/stage-3/results Martin untouchable in Grenoble time trial 2011-06-08 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-11-05 https://web.archive.org/web/20111103171745/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/criterium-du-dauphine-upt/stage-3/results 2011-11-03 dead He finished sufficiently near the front of the race on all other days as well, assuring him second place overall in the event. Stephen Farrand http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/criterium-du-dauphine-upt/stage-7/results Wiggins claims Dauphiné overall victory 2011-06-12 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-11-05 https://web.archive.org/web/20111103170717/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/criterium-du-dauphine-upt/stage-7/results 2011-11-03 dead The team's principal winner in the later season was Van Avermaet. At the Tour of Austria, he won stage 6 in a photo finish from a breakaway, besting THR 2011's Matt Brammeier by the thinnest of margins.Susan Westemeyer https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/int-osterreich-rundfahrt-2-hc/stage-6/results Van Avermaet wins stage 6 2011-07-08 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-11-05 He took the points jersey with this stage win, adding a first to a fourth and an eighth place secured earlier in the event, and won it at the event's conclusion.Cycling News https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/int-osterreich-rundfahrt-2-hc/stage-8/results Bennati sprints to final stage 2011-07-10 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-11-05 Van Avermaet next triumphed at the Tour de Wallonie. He and VCD 2011's Joost van Leijen were the only two riders to finish at the front of the race in each of the first two stages. Though van Leijen won stage 2, Van Avermaet took the race lead because of his higher finish on stage 1.Cycling News https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-wallonie-2-hc-2/stage-2/results Van Leijen wins stage 2 2011-07-24 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-11-05 This stage occurred on the same day that Evans sealed his Tour de France championship in Paris; the team posted news of Van Avermaet's race leadership by calling it the "other yellow jersey" they had taken.BMC Racing Team https://twitpic.com/5v7sbj First look at the "other" yellow jersey claimed by the BMC Racing Team. Greg Van Avermaet today at #Wallonie. 2011-07-24 Twitpic Twitpic, Inc. 2011-11-05 Van Avermaet successfully retained the race lead to the event's conclusion, adding a stage win on the last day, beating out van Leijen.Stephen Farrand https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-wallonie-2-hc-2/stage-5/results Van Avermaet wins overall 2011-07-27 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-11-05 The team took a further two victories in August. Phinney earned the first win of his professional career in the prologue time trial at the Eneco Tour, finishing the 5.7 km 1 us course 7 seconds faster than Edvald Boasson Hagen in second place.Cycling News https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/eneco-tour-upt-2/prologue/results Phinney takes prologue at Eneco 2011-08-08 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-11-05 Hincapie returned to the winners' circle for the first time in two years at the USA Pro Cycling Challenge, finishing the best of six breakaway riders in stage 2 in Aspen.Cycling News https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/usa-pro-cycling-challenge-2-1/stage-2/results Hincapie triumphs in Aspen 2011-08-24 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-11-05 The team also sent squads to the Tour Down Under, the Tour of Qatar, the Tour of Oman, the Giro di Sardegna, Paris–Nice, the Volta a Catalunya, the Tour of the Basque Country, the Giro del Trentino, the Tour de Suisse, the Tour of Utah, Circuit Franco-Belge, and the Tour of Beijing, but did not achieve a stage win, classification win, or podium finish in any of them. Grand Tours Giro d'Italia BMC came to the Giro without a real overall classification hopeful. Sporting director Fabio Baldato stated that the team's nine-man squad was designed to give them a chance at a stage win every day, with Kristoff for the sprints, Kohler, Wyss, and Zahner for the breakaways, and Tschopp and Frank for the climbs. Rounding out the squad were young Americans Barton, Beyer, and Butler, riding the Giro mainly for experience.Thomas A. Valentinsen http://www.roadcycling.com/Team-BMC-Racing-Starts-the-Giro-d-Italia-2011-Without-a-Leader Team BMC Racing Starts the Giro d'Italia 2011 Without a Leader 2011-05-04 Roadcycling.com Seven Sparkles International 2013-04-12 https://web.archive.org/web/20130731062317/http://roadcycling.com/Team-BMC-Racing-Starts-the-Giro-d-Italia-2011-Without-a-Leader 2013-07-31 dead They constituted three of the seven Americans in the Giro peloton.Jason Devaney http://www.universalsports.com/news-blogs/article/newsid=531914.html Americans at the 2011 Giro d'Italia 2011-05-04 Universal Sports NBC Universal Inc. 2011-11-01 The team's preparation for the Giro was also affected by the Mantova investigation, which resulted in the team's banning of Ballan and Santambrogio for the second time, after a previous ban in April 2010.http://www.sbs.com.au/cyclingcentral/news/24326/BMC-suspends-Ballan-Santambrogio-again BMC suspends Ballan, Santambrogio again 3 May 2011 3 June 2011 Cycling Central Special Broadcasting Service 21 October 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20121021141428/http://www.sbs.com.au/cyclingcentral/news/24326/BMC-suspends-Ballan-Santambrogio-again dead Again just as in 2010, the two were reactivated shortly after the Giro concluded.Cycling News https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/bmc-reactivates-ballan-santambrogio BMC reactivates Ballan, Santambrogio 2011-05-30 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-11-01 The squad was middle of the pack in the stage 1 team time trial, finishing 13th of 23 teams.Stephen Farrand https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-1/results HTC-Highroad triumphs in team time trial 2011-05-07 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-05-07 The squad was most active during stage 5, on the unpaved or 'white' roads into Orvieto, when Kohler went on the attack after 12 km us and made the principal breakaway as a single rider. His advantage ballooned to almost 13 minutes at its highest point, but when it began to fall, it did not fall precipitously at first. With 70 km us left to race, Kohler still had eight minutes on the main field. He was therefore first over the two third-category climbs on the course, and while mountains leader Gianluca Brambilla took maximum points from the peloton on both, Kohler took the green jersey from him at day's end. Kohler retained the jersey on stage 6 before seventh stage winner Bart De Clercq of OLO 2011 assumed it on Montevergine di Mercogliano. Kristoff took two top ten stage placings in the first half of the race, with fourth on stage 8 (second from the peloton behind the attacking Oscar Gatto and Alberto Contador),Les Clarke https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-8/results Gatto and Contador surprise the sprinters 2011-05-14 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-05-15 and ninth on stage 10 (a more traditional field sprint ).Cycling News https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-10/results Cavendish wins into Teramo 2011-05-17 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-05-17 Tschopp finished the best of the team's six riders to reach the finish, finishing 16th overall. The team also shared the Fair Play award with five other teams, avoiding penalty points for minor technical infringements. Tour de France thumb|left|alt=A road racing cyclist in a red, black, and white skinsuit. Spectators watch from behind roadside barricades.|Team captain Cadel Evans won the Tour de France, thanks in large measure to his time trial skills. The Tour de France was the main focal point of the season for BMC's leader Evans, and perhaps the team itself. He had ridden two Grand Tours each of the past two seasons, and in three of the past four, but in 2011 he focused solely on the Tour. He rode a different race program in preparation for the Tour than he had in previous years, riding fewer races. Among them were the early-season stage races Tirreno–Adriatico and Tour de Romandie, both of which Evans won, and the Critérium du Dauphiné, where he finished on the podium in second overall. The squad named to the race was chosen with the sole goal of helping Evans win the race overall. It consisted of classics specialists Hincapie and Burghardt with the aim of keeping Evans out of trouble in the flatter stages, climbers Moinard and Morabito to help in the mountains, and strong time trialists Bookwalter and Schär (and Hincapie) for the stage 2 team time trial. Hincapie made his 16th consecutive Tour start, to tie the record held by Joop Zoetemelk, having finished each except the very first.VeloNews.com http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/06/news/bmc-announces-squad-for-2011-tour-de-france_179392 BMC announces squad for 2011 Tour de France 2011-06-19 VeloNews Competitor Group, Inc. 2011-11-01 2011-09-01 https://web.archive.org/web/20110901075431/http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/06/news/bmc-announces-squad-for-2011-tour-de-france_179392 dead Evans was active in the finale of the first road race stage. Almost completely flat with a punchy uphill finish, the stage kept the peloton together most of the way before a crash 9 km us from the end split the field. Evans stayed out front and shadowed Philippe Gilbert on the finish atop the Mont des Alouettes. The Belgian won the stage, but Evans finished clear of the peloton for second place three seconds back.Richard Moore https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-1/results Gilbert conquers Mont des Alouettes 2011-07-02 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-11-01 This positioned the team well for the stage 2 team time trial. Despite being considered the lesser of squads such as GRM 2011, SKY 2011, and THR 2011, among others, the squad finished second just four seconds back of GRM 2011 yes, tied with SKY 2011 yes and LEO 2011. The result left GRM 2011 yes riders Thor Hushovd and David Millar tied on the same time at the top of the overall classification, with the Norwegian taking the yellow jersey, and Evans installed into third overall just a single second back. Evans said after the stage that he was very pleased with the team's effort and had confidence for the continuation of the race.Les Clarke https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-2/results Garmin-Cervelo wins team time trial 2011-07-03 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-11-01 thumb|right|alt=A line of road racing cyclists, including one in a red, white, and black jersey riding directly in front of one with a prominently yellow jersey. Spectators watch from the roadside.|Evans on stage 18 riding in front of race leader Thomas Voeckler, before his strenuous solo pull at the end of the stage.. Stage 4, again mostly flat with an uphill finish, was another important day for the team. Evans approached the finish with a select group at the head of the race, including most of the race's overall favorites and race leader Hushovd. Evans outsprinted Alberto Contador at the finish to claim his second career Tour stage win.Peter Cossins https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-4/results Evans takes photo finish over Contador 2011-07-05 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-11-01 After finishing safely in the peloton on the next three stages, all of them favoring sprinters, Evans took third, just behind Gilbert, on Super Besse in stage 8. Despite the uphill finish and the stage's bumpy profile, Hushovd also finished in this group, meaning Evans did not, as was expected, take the yellow jersey.Peter Cossins https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-8/results Costa claims Movistar's first Tour stage 2011-07-09 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-11-01 Though the next day featured a change of race leader, when a breakaway including Thomas Voeckler gained almost four minutes against the peloton, Evans remained well-placed in third overall.Peter Cossins https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-9/results Luis León Sánchez wins crash-hit stage 2011-07-10 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-11-01 There were then no significant changes to the overall standings until stage 16. This was a medium mountain stage heading gradually uphill until a second-category climb 11 km us from the finish in Gap. Hushovd won the stage from a breakaway, but together with Contador and Samuel Sánchez, Evans attacked on the descent. He gained over a minute against the race's other top riders, most notably Andy Schleck.Les Clarke https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-16/results Hushovd smashes breakaway for second stage win 2011-07-19 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-11-01 Stage 18 was extremely important to the race's overall standings. With 60 km us still to go before the finish, Andy Schleck attacked out of the group of race favorites, and no one followed him. He made the bridge up to a teammate from the morning escape, who paced him to a maximum four-minute advantage at the front of the race. From behind, Evans put in an intensive effort from about the 10 km us to go mark to limit his losses. Schleck easily won the stage, but Evans remained only 57 seconds down, a time gap he could easily make up in the stage 20 individual time trial.Susan Westemeyer https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-18/results Schleck's mountain raid nets stage win 2011-07-21 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-11-01 Evans had mounted the final chase all on his own, with riders near him such as Voeckler and Ivan Basso contributing no work. Fränk Schleck took a little time out of him in view of the finish line, but no one else did, as the field finished scattered behind Evans. His long, largely solo chase was characterized as saving his overall chances after Andy Schleck had made his bid for Tour victory beforehand. Louis Bell http://sanfrancisco.ibtimes.com/articles/184748/20110721/cadel-evans-monster-chase-of-andy-schleck-keeps-tour-hopes-alive.htm Cadel Evans' monster chase of Andy Schleck keeps Tour hopes alive 2011-07-21 IB Times International Business Times Inc. 2011-11-01 https://web.archive.org/web/20120425065043/http://sanfrancisco.ibtimes.com/articles/184748/20110721/cadel-evans-monster-chase-of-andy-schleck-keeps-tour-hopes-alive.htm 2012-04-25 dead The status quo largely held the next day on Alpe d'Huez, though Voeckler at last fell from the race lead, putting Andy Schleck in the yellow jersey.Peter Cossins https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-19/results Rolland wins on the Alpe d'Huez at end of epic stage 2011-07-22 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-11-01 Schleck was characterized as missing an important chance to pad his race lead with the time trial, where Evans was recognized as the better of the two, still to race.Greg Bishop https://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/23/sports/2011-tour-de-france-andy-schleck-grabs-overall-lead.html?pagewanted=all After 19 Stages, Tour Comes Down to Dash in Individual Time Trial 2011-07-22 The New York Times 2011-11-01 thumb|right|alt=Four road racing cyclists viewed from behind, wearing special jerseys that are, from left to right, prominently white, yellow, green, and red polka-dotted.|Evans wearing the yellow jersey before the start of the Tour's final stage, with the other jersey winners. The Tour came down to the stage 20 time trial in Grenoble. While Evans was certainly the stronger of the two in the event, Schleck had surpassed expectations in the long time trial in the 2010 Tour de France and there was speculation as to whether the Luxembourger had enough time in hand to win the Tour with his 57-second cushion.Juliet Macur https://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/23/sports/cycling/tour-de-france-showdown-favors-evanss-style-over-andy-schlecks-time.html Andy Schleck Has Time on His Side, but Showdown Favors Evans's Style 2011-07-22 The New York Times 2011-11-01 They were the last two riders on the course, and rode diametrically different time trials. About an hour earlier, Tony Martin had set a dominant best time, finishing more than a minute better than any other rider in the field. Evans rode one of the best time trials of his life, seconds off Martin's pace at each time check and only seven seconds the lesser of him at the finish line. Schleck's ride was unremarkable, ceding two and a half minutes to Evans by finishing 17th on the day. What had been speculated to be a close challenge ended up being no challenge at all – Evans took the race lead by over a minute and a half.Les Clarke https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-20/results Evans conquers all with picture perfect time trial 2011-07-23 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-11-01 Since the Tour's final stage is largely ceremonial and not competitive for the overall classification, the time trial clinched the Tour for Evans, the first Grand Tour win in Evans' long top-level career that had featured three previous podiums and six previous top-tens. All nine BMC riders reached the Tour's finish.Barry Ryan https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-21/results Cadel Evans wins 2011 Tour de France 2011-07-24 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-11-01 Evans' triumph meant that Hincapie set a new record as the only man ever to ride on nine Tour-winning squads. Australia's prime minister phoned Evans personally to congratulate him.Reuters http://www.bikeworldnews.com/2011/07/25/australia-bows-king-cadel/ Australia bows down before "King Cadel" 2011-07-25 Bike World News BWN Publishing 2011-11-01 He was later honored with a parade and a state reception in Melbourne, with thousands of supporters attending.Alison Caldwell https://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2011/s3292552.htm Tens of thousands congratulate Cadel Evans 2011-08-12 ABC News Australian Broadcasting Corporation 2011-11-01 Vuelta a España Shortly after the Tour de France ended, the team reiterated Evans' season plan, that it had been his only Grand Tour for 2011 and that he would not ride the Vuelta.Andrew Hood http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/07/news/no-vuelta-for-cadel-evans-possible-start-for-colorado_186297 No Vuelta for Cadel Evans, possible start for Colorado 2011-07-26 VeloNews Competitor Group, Inc. 2011-11-02 2011-08-30 https://web.archive.org/web/20110830074011/http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/07/news/no-vuelta-for-cadel-evans-possible-start-for-colorado_186297 dead The team made its Vuelta debut in 2011, having ridden the Italian and French Grand Tours in 2010 via wildcard invites while receiving no such invite to the Tour of Spain. Much as at the Giro, BMC's squad for the Vuelta was chosen with stage wins in mind. Van Avermaet and Grand Tour debutant Phinney would try for the sprints, with Frank, Santaromita, and Tschopp for the climbs. Kohler, Kroon, Quinziato, and Santambrogio rounded out the squad.Gerald Churchill http://www.roadcycling.com/Team-BMC-Racing-Releases-2011-Vuelta-a-Espana-Roster Team BMC Racing Releases 2011 Vuelta a Espana Roster 2011-08-17 Roadcycling.com Seven Sparkles International 2013-04-12 https://web.archive.org/web/20150910013301/http://www.roadcycling.com/Team-BMC-Racing-Releases-2011-Vuelta-a-Espana-Roster 2015-09-10 deadXylon van Eyck http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/9429/BMC-Racing-Team-mainly-chasing-stage-wins-at-the-Vuelta-a-Espana.aspx BMC Racing Team mainly chasing stage wins at the Vuelta a España 2011-08-17 VeloNation VeloNation LLC 2011-11-02 In a squad with much less star power than that sent to the Tour de France, they were again middle of the pack in the team time trial, finishing 11th of 22 teams.Les Clarke https://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-1/results Leopard Trek claims team time trial 2011-08-20 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-11-02 The squad did not show themselves much, as it was not until stage 10 that they so much as finished in the top ten on a stage. Phinney took fifth place in the stage 10 individual time trial, a minute and a half off the pace of the day's winner Tony Martin.Daniel Benson https://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-10/results Martin smashes Vuelta time trial 2011-08-29 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-11-02 Frank rode to fourth from a breakaway in the next stage, again a minute and a half off the pace of the day's winner, this time David Moncoutié.Stephen Farrand https://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-11/results Moncoutie prevails on Estación de Montaña Manzaneda 2011-08-31 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-11-02 All the team had to show for itself from the second half of the Vuelta was a seventh place from Van Avermaet in the field sprint finish to stage 12.Peter Cossins https://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-12/results Sagan pounces in Pontevedra 2011-09-01 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-11-02 Six BMC riders reached the Vuelta's finish, with Van Avermaet in 83rd place being their highest overall finisher.Les Clarke http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-21/results Sagan steals final stage from pure sprinters 2011-09-11 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-11-02 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20130102215145/http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-21/results 2013-01-02 Season victories Date Race Competition Rider Country Location March 14 Tirreno–Adriatico, Stage 6 UCI World TourCadel Evans AUS Macerata March 15 Tirreno–Adriatico, Overall UCI World TourCadel Evans AUS May 1 Tour de Romandie, Overall UCI World TourCadel Evans AUS May 29 Tour of Belgium, Sprints classification UCI Europe TourMarcus Burghardt GER May 29 Giro d'Italia, Fair Play Teams classification UCI World Tour Six-way tie with AND 2011, THR 2011, QST 2011, LIQ 2011, and COG 2011 July 5 Tour de France, Stage 4 UCI World TourCadel Evans AUS Mûr-de-Bretagne July 8 Tour of Austria, Stage 6 UCI Europe TourGreg Van Avermaet BEL Bruck an der Leitha July 10 Tour of Austria, Points classification UCI Europe TourGreg Van Avermaet BEL July 24 Tour de France, Overall UCI World TourCadel Evans AUS July 27 Tour de Wallonie, Stage 5 UCI Europe Tour Greg Van Avermaet BEL Thuin July 27 Tour de Wallonie, Overall UCI Europe Tour Greg Van Avermaet BEL August 8 Eneco Tour, Prologue UCI World Tour Taylor Phinney USA Amersfoort August 24 USA Pro Cycling Challenge, Stage 2 UCI America TourGeorge Hincapie USA Aspen October 9 Paris–Tours UCI Europe Tour Greg Van Avermaet BEL Tours Footnotes N References 30em Category:2011 road cycling season by team B Category:2011 in American sports