Approaching the opening week of the 2014 season, the BMC Racing Team announced the prospective early season programs of several riders Friday.

Will Help Fans See Their Favorites

BMC Racing Team President/General Manager Jim Ochowicz said the publication of competition schedules for some of the team's past world road and national champions and top contenders is beneficial in a number of ways. "This is something new for us, as we previously have not publicized specific race schedules. But by going public with some of our top riders' objectives, we hope to send the message that we are ready for the new season. Our motto this year is 'winning' and we're ready to start doing it." Ochowicz said publicizing schedules is also good for fans who might want to travel to a specific race to see one of their favorite riders. Sporting Manager Allan Peiper said the BMC Racing Team has worked carefully with each rider on the team to craft a racing program with goals being set for each rider that suits his strengths and maximizes the potential for victory. "Our newly-created Sports Science group can then work with our riders to build the phase plans towards specific goals that will hopefully lead us to some great victories in 2014."

BMC Racing Team rider programs being announced are:

Cadel Evans (AUS):

Santos Tour Down Under (Australia, Jan. 21-26), Tour Méditerranéen (France, Feb. 13-16), Tour du Haut Var (France, Feb. 22-23), Strade Bianche (Italy, March 8), Tirreno-Adriatico (Italy, March 12-18).

Philippe Gilbert (BEL):

Tour of Qatar (Feb. 9-14), Tour of Oman (Feb. 18-23), Classic Sud Ardèche-Souvenir Francis Delpech (France, March 1), Drôme Classic (France, March 2), Roma Maxima (Italy, March 9), Tirreno-Adriatico (Italy, March 12-18).

Thor Hushovd (NOR):

Dubai Tour (Feb. 5-8), Tour du Haut Var (France, Feb. 22-23), Omloop Het Nieuwsblad (Belgium, March 1), Paris-Nice (France, March 9-16).

Taylor Phinney (USA):

Tour de San Luis (Argentina, Jan. 20-26), Dubai Tour (Feb. 5-8), Tour Méditerranéen (France, Feb. 13-16), Omloop Het Nieuwsblad (Belgium, March 1), Paris-Nice (France, March 9-16).

Greg Van Avermaet (BEL):

Tour of Qatar (Feb. 9-14), Tour of Oman (Feb. 18-23), Omloop Het Nieuwsblad (Belgium, March 1), Strade Bianche (Italy, March 8), Tirreno-Adriatico (Italy, March 12-18).

Tejay van Garderen (USA):

Tour of Oman (Feb. 18-23), Paris-Nice (France, March 9-16), Volta Ciclista a Catalunya (Spain, March 24-30).