The BMC Racing Team will begin the Tour of Oman Monday with objectives that include a stage win, a good placing on the overall classification and solid preparation for upcoming races, Directeur Sportif John Lelangue said.

Reigning world road champion Philippe Gilbert and past Tour de France champion and world road champion Cadel Evans join a number of riders from the BMC Racing Team squad that made its mark this week at the Tour of Qatar. Stage 1 winner Brent Bookwalter and best young rider Taylor Phinney, who finished second and third overall, respectively, will team with Steve Cummings, Yannick Eijssen, Michael Schär and Greg Van Avermaet. All were part of the victorious team time trial squad and winners of the team classification.

Lelangue said there will be plenty of opportunities for success in the six-day race. "It's the first race of the year for Cadel, though, so there's not pressure on him at all," he said. "We will take things day-by-day but our options are pretty high to have a good week of racing."

First Race For Evans

After opening his season at the Santos Tour Down Under in Australia, Gilbert said he looks forward to competing in warm conditions again.

"It's been cold in Monaco, which hasn't been ideal for training, but we'll see what I can do in Oman," he said.

Evans will be racing for the first time since the USA Pro Challenge last August.

"I'm looking forward to getting back to racing with my teammates and pinning a number on," he said. "I chose Oman to start for its favorable weather and I had heard a lot of good things about the it. So to start the race in good weather is something I'm looking forward to and to give me an indication of how my pre-season preparation has been."