BMC will have a start-studded line-up at the start line of this year's Milan-Sanremo which takes places on Sunday. With Philippe Gilbert, Thor Hushovd, Taylor Phinney, Greg Van Avermaet, and Peter Velits, the Americans can count on five past top 10 finishers on a formidable roster.

Philippe Gilbert headlines the BMC Racing Team roster for Sunday's 105th edition of Milan-San Remo.

Gilbert has twice finished third (in 2008 and 2011) in the UCI WorldTour race. The past world road champion also has a sixth- (in 2005) and ninth-place finish (in 2010) to his credit.

Four other riders on the BMC Racing Team's roster for the 299-kilometer race have previously finished in the top 10: past world road champion Thor Hushovd was third in 2005 and 2009, sixth in 2010 and ninth in 2008; Taylor Phinney was a BMC Racing Team-best seventh last year; Greg Van Avermaet was ninth in 2011 and Peter Velits finished 10th in 2009.

While Hushovd will be the team's protected rider in case of a sprint finish, Gilbert and Omloop Het Nieuwsblad runner-up Greg Van Avermaet are expected to play their cards on the Poggio climb in the finale. Phinney may play his card a bit further out after his splendid performance in last year's race where he escaped at the finish and almost caught the group that sprinted for the win.

Hushovd showed solid condition in the recent Paris-Nice where he sprinted to a pair of top 10 finishes while Van Avermaet and Velits were present in the hillier stages. Gilbert tested his condition in uphill finish in Arezzo in Tirreno-Adriatico where he took a fine 4th on the stage won by Sanremo favourite Peter Sagan.

The team is completed by classics stalwarts Manuel Quinziato,  Michael Schär and Danilo Wyss.

BMC Racing Team Milan-San Remo Roster (March 23):
Philippe Gilbert (BEL), Thor Hushovd (NOR), Taylor Phinney (USA), Manuel Quinziato (ITA), Michael Schär (SUI), Greg Van Avermaet (BEL), Peter Velits (SVK), Danilo Wyss (SUI).