According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, World Champion Allesandro Ballan, will make the switch from Lampre-NGC to the Pro-continental formation BMC Racing in 2010.

After six seasons with Giuseppe Saronni, the 29 year old rider looks set to head to the USA based team, despite having been linked to Garmin and Rabobank in the past weeks. Ballan’s departure seems certain, but the desitnation will be confirmed on September 1st.

“I have chosen to go to a new team. I want to go to a foreign team to learn English and to see some of the world. It is true that it’s not a ProTour-team, but when you have good riders, the wildcards will come naturally,” said Ballan.

The Italian is currently competing in the Vuelta Espana where he will fine-tune his form to defend his rainbow jersey in Mendrisio.

“I will not stay with Saronni because I want to better myself. It has been good in this team, very good, and I still have some big goals: repeating Worlds and Lombardia. But to stay another two years would be too much.”