As one of the most distinguished riders on the professional UCI WorldTour for the past decade, Hushovd has had the privilege of seeing a vast array of countries and cultures, but the 2010 world champion will be relying on teammates such as 2012 Tour of Beijing stage winner Stephen Cummings for insider tips on the final race for the season.

Hushovd has built a career as one of the most respected riders in the world. The 35-year-old won the points classification at the Tour de France in 2005 and 2009 and went on to wear the leader’s yellow jersey for eight consecutive days in 2011. He also has stage victories at the Giro d’Italia, Vuelta a España and a Gent-Wevelgem win in 2006. His palmares and an aggressive style of tactical riding means Hushovd is always a headline act, whether it is racing in the sport’s heartland of Europe or the growing popularity of Asia.

"I have never been to China, so I am looking forward to seeing the country and the city of Beijing itself,” Hushovd said. “I am also looking forward to meeting the Chinese people.

“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.”

Hushovd will draw on the experience of teammate Cummings, who could be considered a veteran of racing in the burgeoning atmosphere of Asia, in particular Beijing.

Cummings initially represented Great Britain on the track at the 2008 Olympic Games, before switching to the road where he finished fourth overall in the inaugural Tour of Beijing in 2011 and last year won the final stage.

"Winning a stage last year was very satisfying. The route was nice with a few climbs and a technical descent, and with it being the last race of the year, it was extra special,” Cummings said.

"The route and roads are good and there are opportunities for all types of riders to have success. Climbers, sprinters, breakaway specialists – there is something for everyone.  The organisation has been very good and you feel safe. It's also nice to go and see and experience China.

“I think we have options, which is great. We have a few guys who can do well on the overall and we have guys who can go for stage wins. I hope we can have some nice success. My form is good, so I'm hopeful I can do something."

Hushovd and Cummings will have the support of 2008 Tour de France stage winner Marcus Burghardt, young German climber Dominik Nerz, 2013 USA Pro Cycling Challenge runner-up Mathias Frank, and key lead-out sprint specialist Daniel Oss.

As a six-time Italian time trial champion, Marco Pinotti will provide the combination of aggressive riding and immense endurance whilst young American Larry Warbasse will learn greatly from the experience having graduated from the team’s development program in 2012.

BMC Racing Team’s sporting director Max Sciandri is confident that they have the fire power to target a number of good results at the 2013 Tour of Beijing.

"We would like to do well there and put a nice finish on a season where we were gradually getting better and better. 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,” Sciandri said.

BMC Racing Team line-up for 2013 Tour of Beijing:

Marcus Burgardt (GER, 30)
2013 mountains classification winner at the Tour of Romandie and stage 18 winner at the 2008 Tour de France. Has finished each of the six Tour de France races he has started.

Stephen Cummings (GBR, 32)
Captured the final stage at the 2012 Tour of Beijing and finished fourth overall in 2011. The Vuelta a España stage winner (2012) was a distinguished rider on the track, particularly in the team pursuit having captured a world championship (2005), Olympic silver (2004), and Commonwealth Games gold (2006).

Mathias Frank (SUI, 26)
The all-round rider will be entering the Tour of Beijing in the hottest form of his career. In 2013, Frank has won two stages of the Tour of Austria, finished second overall and won a stage in the USA Pro Cycling Challenge, was fourth in the Tour of California and fifth in the Tour of Switzerland, where he has previously won both the sprinters and mountains classification.

Thor Hushovd (NOR, 35)
One of the most distinguished riders in the world, who is admired worldwide for his aggressive tactics and finishes. Crowned a remarkable career by winning the 2010 road race world championship, having also won the points classification of the Tour de France in 2005 and 2009, and wore the leader's yellow jersey for eight consecutive stages in 2011. Also won the points classification of the 2006 Vuelta a España to go with a stage victory of the Giro d'Italia.

Dominik Nerz (GER, 24)
A young climber who had an impressive junior career. Was world champion on the track in the team pursuit (2006) and won the under 23 German road race championship. At the elite level, he has impressed in the Grand Tour races, registering the team’s best finish overall (14th) and fourth on a stage at the Vuelta a España.

Daniel Oss (ITA, 26)
A junior national champion on the track riding his first year with the team after debuting in the UCI ProTour with Liquigas. A runner-up finish on stage 11 at the Giro d’Italia adds to top 10 finishes at the 2010 Gent-Wevelgem (5th) and 2012 Milan-San Remo (9th).

Marco Pinotti (ITA, 37)
Six-time Italian time trial champion to go with two time trial victories at the Giro d'Italia and a fifth placing at the Olympic Games in London last year. A hard-working veteran, who finished ninth overall in the 2010 Giro d'Italia and showed impressive form at the recent Vuelta a España.

Larry Warbasse (USA, 23)
Graduated to the BMC Racing Team’s WorldTour squad after being part of its Under 23 program since 2010. Was part of the team who helped Tejay van Garderen to victory at 2013 USA Pro Challenge.