Samuel Sanchez will get his first chance to lead BMC when he lines up in the Volta a Catalunya next Monday. The Spaniard has a strong team at his disposal, with Tejay van Garderen making his comeback after his premature withdrawal from Paris-Nice.

The BMC Racing Team has assembled a strong team around Samuel Sánchez to support the past Olympic road race champion at Volta a Catalunya, which begins Monday.

Overall runner-up in 2012 and a stage winner here in 2007 and 2012, Sánchez said he is ready for his first major stage race of the season.

"I am feeling better as time goes by and also with each race I do," Sánchez said. "During Roma Maxima, I was there at the end and I expect to continue my improvement, step-by-step."

A recent training camp in Italy was extremely helpful, he said.

"It was a very positive experience at all levels in a professional environment: from food to masseurs, coaches, mechanics, directors and osteopaths. I also had the chance to meet more teammates and begin a friendly relationship."

BMC Racing Team Sport Director Yvon Ledanois said helping Sánchez go for the overall will be the goal.

"This will be a hard race, but Samuel is ready and motived and Tejay van Garderen has recovered well," he said. "We have a good team here and I have confidence they will help our leader make a good result."

In his first race of the year, van Garderen was runner-up at the Tour of Oman. But he was stricken by sickness before Paris-Nice and forced to withdraw on Stage 1.

"I may be lacking some race rhythm, but I was able to train well the past 10 days," van Garderen said. "My hope is to get stronger throughout the race, earn a top 10 result, and help my teammates if needed. I am also excited to do my first race with Sammy."

Among those also on the roster are Peter Stetina, who helped a teammate win Catalunya last year, and Darwin Atapuma, who was ninth in January at the Tour de San Luis.

BMC Racing Team Volta a Catalunya Roster (March 24-30):
Darwin Atapuma (COL), Marcus Burghardt (GER), Yannick Eijssen (BEL), Martin Kohler (SUI), Samuel Sánchez (ESP), Peter Stetina (USA), Tejay van Garderen (USA), Larry Warbasse (USA).