Cadel Evans is confident BMC will maintain its technological edge in the critical time trial stages at this year’s Tour de France.
The reigning champion benefited from his team’s state-of-the-art time trial bike in overhauling Andy Schleck in the pivotal second last stage around Grenoble last year.
With this year’s course favouring time triallers, having the best equipment is even more vital.
Evans expected BMC to enjoy “some advantages” in the technological department when the 99th edition of the Tour de France starts on June 30.
Following time trial simulations at the team’s training camp around the Spanish coastal town of Denia this week, Evans was “confident” his team remained at the cutting edge.
“We have not seen what everyone else has done for the TT yet, but to have something better than what we have, they are going to have to have something pretty special. That is for sure,” he said.
Evans believes he needs a better team to defend his Tour de France title in the northern summer and that is just what he has been given.
BMC has added stars Thor Hushovd and Philippe Gilbert to its stable and strengthened Evans’ support in the mountain stages by signing Steve Cummings and Tejay Van Garderen.
George Hincapie, a veteran of 16 tours and member of nine title-winning units, said the “added horsepower” meant that BMC should be even more potent this year.
Evans, who turns 35 next month, was the oldest winner of the cycling’s greatest race since 1923.
However, the 38-year-old Hincapie thought age was not going to be a problem for Evans during the 3479km race.
“Now it is all about motivation,” he said.
“The training now is so specific and individually tailored.
“Someone like Cadel, he gets in shape quickly and I think he is getting better too.”
With so much star power in BMC’s ranks, some have questioned whether all the egos can be kept in check during the 21 days of racing in the sport’s grandest tour.
“There seems to be a lot of talk about too many leaders in one team and you can have too many leaders in one team, that is for sure,” Evans said.
“But that depends completely on the personalities. I have worked with Phil in the past and really enjoyed it. I have only heard good things from people about Thor.”
Evans slipped in a far-from-subtle reminder to Olympic selectors of his time trailing ability before selection for this year’s Games.
“I don’t know what the exact criteria is for the time trial,” he said.
“But a guy who gets second against (world champion) Tony Martin in the Tour de France in a time trial in July indicates I can time trial fairly well.
“I hope that counts towards a place in the time trial if I am the right guy for the job.”
Evans is also keen to assist the nation’s road race team at the London Games.
