Caruso and Dennis take over BMC's Tirreno-Adriatico captaincy
Mar 02 2018 08:34 pm CET
Tirreno-Adriatico
Richie Porte (BMC) has developed an upper respiratory infection that stops him from starting at Tirreno-Adriatico. The rider will be replaced as captain by Damiano Caruso and Rohan Dennis.
Porte got sick after Portugal and couldn't recover on time. "Richie Porte developed an upper respiratory infection after Volta ao Algarve which forced him to miss the best part of a week's training," said the team's Chief Medical Officer Max Testa.
"Given Tirreno-Adriatico was one of Richie's goal races this season, it did not make sense to line up when his preparation was far from ideal. Richie and the BMC Racing Team management and medical team agreed that it was in his best interests to miss Tirreno-Adriatico and adjust his race program, in order to recover properly."
Now the team shifts its hopes mainly to Caruso with Dennis as a second option, maintaining Greg Van Avermaet as a choice to get stage victories. "We are going to Tirreno-Adriatico with various ambitions, and it all starts with defending our team time trial victory from 2016 and 2017," commented Sports Director Maximilian Sciandri.
"There are then a couple of stages that should suit Greg Van Avermaet, who we know is in good shape and is always motivated to do well. Looking at the General Classification, Damiano Caruso will take on a leadership role, and we are confident that he can step up and show the form we know he has. We will also see what Rohan Dennis can do, and I'm sure he will be motivated for the final time trial again."
BMC Racing Team's roster for Tirreno-Adriatico (7th to 13th of March):
Alberto Bettiol
Patrick Bevin
Damiano Caruso
Rohan Dennis
Stefan Küng
Michael Schär
Greg Van Avermaet
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