BMC Racing Team has signalled that it will go on the attack at this week's Tirreno-Adriatico after it named a strong line-up for the seven-stage🐷 Italian rᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚace.

The event will mark the first time the US squad's three marquee signings, Cadel Evans, Alessandro Ballan and George Hincapie, will have raced together under the BMC banner. While it will be Evans' first participation at Tirreno-Adriatico, both Ballan and💖 Hincapie have recorded top-ten finishes in the rac✨e, including a for Ballan in 2006.

. This year, organisers have removed the test against the clock, a decision that has prompted BMC Sports Director John Lelangue to forecast an aggressive strategy for his riders.

"I think there are three difficult stages – ꦐfour, five and six – which are a little bit more hilly and selective. Knowing there is no time trial this year, every stage will be a little bit tricky," Lelangue said.

♛Alongside Evans, Ballan and Hincapie, Marcus Burghardt and Karsten Kroon will provide the squad with further potency on the long, hilly stages that will punctuate the race's passage to the Adriatic coast. Burghardt, in particular, has shown strong signs of good form already this year after he finished fifth and seventh in the Tours of Q𒐪atar and Oman, respectively.

Brent Bookwalter, Mathias Frank and Thomas Frei༒ round out BMC's eight-man team.

The 2010 Tirreno-Adriatico begins in Livorno on Wednesd🙈ay. of the race was won by Michele Scarponi (Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni - Androni Giocattoli), ahead of Stefano Garzelli (Aqua & Sapone) and Andreas Kloden (Astana).

Hincapie was the highest 2009 finisher in the current BMC roster, having recorded a 17th place result for former team Columbia-HTC.