Austrian consolation for Norwegian champion after Tour de France disappointment

After the disappointment of missing out on BMC Racing’s Tour de France team, Thor Hushovd will have to consolation of debuting his new Norwegian champion’s jersey at the Österreich-Rundfahrt, the Tour of Austria, which starts on Sunday June 30 and runs through July 7th. The former World champion will be one of the American team’s two new national champions to show his new jersey for the first time, as Italian time trial champion Marco Pinotti will also be showing his new tricolore skinsuit in the eight-day race.



"Since I have good form now, I would obviously like to get a stage win," Hushovd said. "But the first couple of days are mountain-top finishes to get it all started, so I will have to look at the details on the other stages so I can try and win one."



Pinotti won the time trial stage of last year’s race, and finished sixth overall but, with another, high-profile, national time trial champion to be present this year, he is realistic about his chances of a repeat in the stage against the clock.



"With Fabian Cancellara being there, it won't be easy to win again," Pinotti conceded. "But I will look at my performance as a further chance to check the numbers and get some feedback."



Last year’s race was a good one for BMC Racing, with Pinotti’s performance bettered by Steve Morabito. The Swiss rider is part of the team’s Tour de France roster this time, but compatriot Mathias Frank will be in the Austrian team having recently come close to winning his home race, the Tour de Suisse.



"With Mathias Frank on great form, I think he can have a really good week," said assistant directeur sportif Jackson Stewart. "We have a really strong roster for all of the stage finishes so we will have many options."



Another of the team’s options will be Belgian Greg Van Avermaet, who won a stage of the 2011 race, while 2008 World champion Alessandro Ballan will continue his comeback to racing after the horrific injuries he sustained in a crash in BMC Racing’s December training camp.



BMC Racing Team for the Österreich-Rundfahrt/Tour of Austria

Alessandro Ballan, Mathias Frank, Thor Hushovd, Dominik Nerz, Daniel Oss, Marco Pinotti, Greg Van Avermaet and Danilo Wyss