Yesterday the route of the Giro d’Italia was unveiled in Milan, spurring the question on which teams would receive wildcard entries. In a interview with Tuttobiciweb, former world champion Alessandro Ballan claims that he will be racing in the Italian Grand Tour next year. This could only mean that his new team, American Pro-Continental team BMC, has all but been assured of taking part in one Grand Tour.
Switzerland’s BMC will be a strong contender for several wildcards spots throughout the season. The additions of Ballan, American national champion George Hincapie, Dutch climber Karsten Kroon, and the strong German Marcus Burghardt to its roster for 2010 have added depth to an already solid foundation. The duo of Hincapie and Ballan should prove a formidable force in the cobbled classics, and when combined with the rest of the team can’t be counted out for stage wins in a Grand Tour.