In his magic 2011 season, Philippe Gilbert won the Tour of Belgium and this year he hopes to repeat the victory in his national Tour. The former world champion spearheads a BMC team that also contains Greg Van Avermaet, Stephen Cummings and Thor Hushovd.

The BMC Racing Team has multiple objectives for the Baloise Tour of Belgium, Sporting Manager Allan Peiper said. The five-day race that begins Wednesday includes a 16.8-kilometer individual time trial on Stage 3.

"We will be going with a strong team focusing on Thor Hushovd for the sprint stages, Steve Cummings for the time trial and Philippe Gilbert as our leader for the overall general classification that includes a tough final weekend," Peiper said.

Gilbert is a past winner and finished third last year while teammate Greg Van Avermaet was runner-up to Gilbert in 2011. The support around those riders is equally as strong, Peiper said, with Marcus Burghardt, Silvan Dillier, Klaas Lodewyck and Rick Zabel.

Van Avermaet, runner-up this year at both Ronde van Vlaanderen and Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, said he was pleased with his return to racing at the Amgen Tour of California.

"It was good to come back in form and get some climbing kilometers in my legs," he said. "This is a good race because it is in my home country and I am always motivated to do a good race. Plus, the first stage is close to my home and the last stage is quite hard and will fit me the best."

BMC Racing Team Baloise Belgium Tour Roster (May 28-June 1):
Marcus Burghardt (GER), Stephen Cummings (GBR), Silvan Dillier (SUI), Philippe Gilbert (BEL), Thor Hushovd (NOR), Klaas Lodewyck (BEL), Greg Van Avermaet (BEL), Rick Zabel (GER).