BMC's GC contender in the Paris-Nice Tejay Van Garderen survived a hectic first stage yesterday. With another windy day coming up, he is encouraged by the work done by the team's strong classics riders.

As OmegaPharma-QuickStep launched an attack in the crosswinds in the final kilometers of the first stage of the Paris-Nice, BMC's strong classics riders Philippe Gilbert and Daniel Oss were seen taking massive turns at the front of the peloton. The plan was to make sure that the team's GC rider Tejay Van Garderen was not trapped if echelons would open up.

The strategy was successful, and Van Garderen finished safely in the bunch in 23rd. He was impressed by the work delivered by those of his teammates who excel in the tough conditions.

"It started out pretty calm," he explained. "The break went away in the first attack and the it was pretty easy. In the last eighty kilometers, it started getting really hectic and nervous. But for me it was pretty much no stress because Philippe Gilbert and Daniel Oss did a really good job. They kept me out of trouble and stayed near the front. It was a good day."

Getting through the next days

After Van Garderen's disappointing prologue, sports director John Lelangue was happy to see a potential dangerous day completed without further time loss.

"The first stages are always a little bit nervous," he told. "That's normal. That's like in the Tour. The idea was to ride to ride with our classics guys Philippe and Daniel Oss in the front around Tejay in the front. And they did great. They were in the front keeping him in a good position, even trying something in the echelon. It is really good. We passed one more stage.

He now looks to get safely through to the final days of the race where Van Garderen is expected to strike and will look to the team's strong climbers to provide the necessary support.

"Tomorrow we have a stage which is almost the same. At the end of the week we have the more selective stages who normally fit Tejay best. Therefore it is important to keep Brent (Bookwalter, ed.), Mathias (Frank, ed.), Dominik (Nerz, ed.) and Ivan (Santaromita, ed.) in good positions."

Bookwalter involved in crash

However, the day was not without any difficulties. Brent Bookwalter who with a stage victory and overall second place in the Tour of Qatar has had a strong start to the season, was involved in a crash in the final. Luckily, he managed to finish the stage 8.23 behind stage winner Nacer Bouhanni (FDJ), and he is expected to start today's second stage.

"I'm feeling really sore, but thankful it's not any worse," he said. "I should be OK for tomorrow."

The team's best finisher in yesterday's stage was Daniel Oss who tried his luck in the sprint and ended up 13th. He will get another chance to go for personal glory while also supporting Van Garderen on today's flat second stage. With a slight incline in the final kilometer, the final might suit Gilbert who could also try to go for his first victory as world champion this afternoon.