Tejay van Garderen is going into his first Tour de France as the undisputed leader of the BMC team. With his sights set on the podium, the American claims that he has learnt from last year when his race ended as a big disappointment.

Since the team first did the Tour de France in 2009, BMC have always had Cadel Evans at the helm in the Tour de France but after the Australian failed to live up to expectations in last year's race, the Australian has been asked to focus on the Giro d'Italia. Instead, Tejay van Garderen has taken over the captaincy role in the world's biggest race.

Van Garderen finished fifth in 2012 but had a disappointing race 12 months ago. He broke his hip in the Tour de Romandie and didn't show his best form in the Criterium du Dauphiné.

Nonetheless, he feels ready for the challenge and claims to have learnt from what went wrong in last year's race.

"To have one captain instead of the two we had last year, is a big difference," he told CyclingQuotes in Leeds. "I have also changed my race schedule. This year I skipped the Tour of California to train at altitude. We have learnt a lot from last year's disappointment and I think we will reap the benefits of this.

"It would be fantastic to finish on the podium but I really just want to have a good race and finish as high in the GC as I can. I feel good and I am older and stronger than I was in 2012. I have to find my mentality from that race where I just had fun and didn't give up. I will take it day by day.

"Of course the time trial is my greatest asset but I have to take the race as it comes and look for opportunities. i won't focus too much on select stages or climbs because the other riders may have different plans and then your own strategy is ruined. Your just have to stay calm and let the race come but of course we have made a plan."