Tejay van Garderen will be looking to continue his splendid form from the Tour of California as he leads the BMC Racing Team at the Tour de Suisse.

The 24-year-old American based his victory in the Tour of California on a win in the demanding, technical time trial stage will use the Swiss stage race as his final preparation for the Tour de France where he is likely to enjoy the same protected status as 2011 winner Cadel Evans.

“It will be a good final preparation for the Tour de France,” van Garderen confirmed. “Coming off the good legs I had in California, it's another good chance for a result.”

While Cadel Evans has opted to skip both Tour de Suisse and the Critérium du Dauphiné after his Giro d’Italia third place, van Garderen will be fully supported by the BMC Racing Team in his Tour de Suisse campaign. World champion Philippe Gilbert will be part of the American's team again after his third place in last week's Tour of Belgium.

“We have confidence in Tejay coming out of California in good shape and we have four riders who helped him there who will be in Switzerland: Philippe Gilbert, Mathias Frank, Amaël Moinard and Michael Schär,” said BMC Racing general manager John Lelangue. “We know the whole race is pretty difficult and surely the last time trial, which finishes with a climb.”

As well as powerful rouleurs Marcus Burghardt and Greg Van Avermaet, van Garderen will also be supported by Martin Kohler. The Swiss champion will wear his national jersey in his home country one final time before he has to defend it at the end of the month.

BMC line-up for the Tour de Suisse:
Marcus Burghardt, Mathias Frank, Philippe Gilbert, Martin Kohler, Amaël Moinard, Michael Schär, Greg Van Avermaet, Tejay van Garderen.