The BMC Racing Team announced Tuesday the eight riders who will support Tejay van Garderen in this year's Tour de France.

After his fifth place in last year's edition, van Garderen will be given his second chance to lead BMC in the world's biggest race. The American recently showed great condition when he finished second behind Chris Froome in the Criterium du Dauphiné.

In the past, BMC have alway given great priority to the flat stages, selecting lots of classics riders to keep their leaders protected in the dangerous first week. This year the team has chosen a similar strategy as strong men Daniel Oss, Michael Schär, Manuel Quinziato and Danilo Wyss will form the backbone to the team.

While he will have strong support in the first week, van Garderen may find him more isolated in the mountains. The key domestiques are Samuel Sanchez, Rohan Dennis and Damiano Caruso. Sanchez is a multiple top 10 finishers in grand tours but has had an anonymous 2015 season so far. Dennis will get his second chance in La Grande Boucle and will try to continue his steady progress. Furthermore, he will be an important asset in the team time trial. Finally, Caruso is the surprise inclusion in the team after recently having finished in the top 10 in the Giro d'Italia.

The team is completed by Greg Van Avermaet who will probably be given a chance to chase personal success in the first week which is loaded with classics terrain suited the strong Belgian. However, he has made it clear that he will leave the race prematurely if his wife gives birth to their child before the end of the race.

Roster:
Damiano Caruso (ITA), Rohan Dennis (AUS), Daniel Oss (ITA), Manuel Quinziato (ITA), Samuel Sánchez (ESP), Michael Schär (SUI), Greg Van Avermaet (BEL), Tejay van Garderen (USA), Danilo Wyss (SUI).