A pair of riders who have won multiple stages at races this year – Mathias Frank (Tour of Austria, USA Pro Challenge) and Norwegian road champion Thor Hushovd (Tour of Austria, Tour de Pologne Arctic Race of Norway) – will be joined by Steve Cummings, who won the final stage of the Tour of Beijing last year.

They will receive support from a roster that includes past Tour de France stage winner Marcus Burghardt, former Swiss road and time trial champion Martin Kohler, top 15 Vuelta a España finisher Dominik Nerz and reigning Italian national time trial champion Marco Pinotti.

"We would like to do well there and put a nice finish on a season where we were gradually getting better and better," Sciandri said. "We are bringing guys who can win stages and guys who can do well on the overall. So it's a race that we are definitely targeting to do well in." Cummings said he has been working to achieve peak form for the five-day race that begins next Friday.

"Winning a stage last year was very satisfying," he said. "The route and the roads are good and there are opportunities for all types of riders to have success. Climbers, sprinters, breakaway specialists – there is something for everyone."

Hushovd is one of several BMC Racing Team riders making their first trip to China. "My goal is to win a stage, but I will also be working hard to help our general classification riders get a good placing on the overall," the past world road champion said.