Vote: Was Evans right to leave Silence-Lotto? "Cadel brings a wealth of experience in the Grand Tours to the team," BMC Racing Team co-owner Jim Ochowicz said in a media statement.

‘‘Our team will have multiple chances to measure ourselves against the greatest teams in the world. We are pleased that we will have the opportunities to send out our most successful riders, now including Cadel Evans, to tackle these challenges.’’ As well as Evans, which is a major signing coup, BCM Racing has recently recruited former world champion Alessandro Ballan, US champion George Hincapie, Karsten Kroon and Marcus Burghardt. A two-time Tour de France runner-up, and a disappointing 30th in the race this year, Evans said his goals were the same as ever.

"I look forward to working with a new team, in a new environment, towards my same goals; honouring the rainbow jersey at the highest level of the sport, and ultimately at the highest step of the Tour de France podium,’’ the Australian said. "Obviously, I would like to do better than my two second places at the Tour de France.’’

BCM Racing sports director John Lelangue said he believed the new team was so strong that it would gain the necessary wildcard entries to join in the biggest international races of 2010. "We have a plan to go to the biggest races, including the Grand Tours. That includes the Tour de France," he said. "This will be possible since our sporting level has greatly increased in standard."