BMC Racing Team will kick off the 2016 season at the Santos Tour Down Under with a strong roster lead by 2015 winner Rohan Dennis.

Dennis will be joined by fellow Australian and 2015 runner up, Richie Porte, who will make his debut with BMC Racing Team.

BMC Racing Team President/General Manager Jim Ochowicz confirmed that the Santos Tour Down Under will be an important race for the team.

“We go in with the defending champion, Rohan Dennis, so we are going to be focused on the race from day one. We have two goals for the race. The first is to defend the title and the other is to see how Richie can come in as he was second last year. It’s also the first WorldTour event for the season so a good performance in Adelaide will give us a good start for 2016.”

BMC Racing Team Sporting Manager and Sports Director for the race, Allan Peiper, said that the team is coming into the race motivated.

“The expectation from the public and the cycling world will be high. That puts a bit of pressure on us but we’re coming with a good team to support those two riders (Dennis & Porte). The most critical stages for Richie and Rohan will be the two climbing stages, with Corkscrew Hill and Willunga Hill in there.”

Dennis admitted that he is going into the race with realistic goals.

“My goals have changed for the season compared to 2015. I think the best way to go into it is thinking about Rio and later on in the season, and see what happens. We’ve got a really strong team and it will be good to have myself there as well as Richie.”

Starting the season with BMC Racing Team in Australia is something Porte is looking forward to.

“To start with the Tour Down Under is the best possible way to start. Having won the past two years on Willunga Hill, why not go for the trifecta? With Rohan and I there I think we’re going to have a great team, so I’m really looking forward to taking on a challenging race.”

Riders: 

Marcus Burghardt (GER), Alessandro De Marchi (ITA), Rohan Dennis (AUS), Floris Gerts (NED), Richie Porte (AUS), Danillo Wyss (SUI), Peter Velits (SVK).