BMC Racing Team is set to continue the 2016 racing program at the Tour of Qatar from 8-12 February, focusing on the General Classification. The five-day stage race will be the first race of the season for team leader Greg Van Avermaet who is looking to improve on his fifth place in the GC in 2015.

 BMC Racing Team Sports Director Fabio Baldato said that although the team will be working to support Van Avermaet for the overall win, there are other cards to play.

"Greg is the team leader and 100% our priority going into the race, but this kind of racing also allows the riders to find other opportunities so I think we can have Oss and Drucker up there in the sprints, as well focusing our attention on the GC."

Van Avermaet is looking forward to racing after a solid off-season.   

"I'm ready to race. You train for a reason and that's racing, so it's good to be lining up for my first race of the season at the Tour of Qatar. It's a great race in terms of preparing for the Classics with the wind and the speed,” Van Avermaet said.

The BMC Roster for the 2016 edition of Tour of Qatar:

Tom Bohli, Jempy Drucker, Michael Schär, Daniel Oss, Manuel Quinziato, Joey Rosskopf, Greg Van Avermaet and Rick Zabel.