The BMC Racing Team roster for this year's Tour of Romandy is spearheaded by Tejay van Garderen, who will use the race to further improve his condition ahead of this year's Tour de France, which he is expected to contest as team captain.

The six-day race begins later today with a 5.6 kilometer prologue, includes two major mountain stages and ends with an 18.5 kilometer individual time trial.

"The goal is to make the best possible result with Tejay van Garderen in the general classification, but also to continue the great team spirit," BMC sport director Yvon Ledanois explained to RoadCycling.com. "Why not try to win stages as well, especially to keep the motivation that is already present in the big races?," he asked rhetorically.

Van Garderen himself said his preparations building toward the Tour de France are going well. Already this season, he has a runner-up finish at the Tour of Oman and third place and a stage win at the Volta a Catalunya to his credit. "I would like to go for as high of overall placing as possible in Romandie," van Garderen said. "I think the parcours fits my strengths well. After Romandie, I will head to altitude where I will continue my Tour preparations. I think I am right on track."

BMC Racing Team Roster for Tour de Romandie 2014:
Tejay van Garderen (USA), Peter Velits (SVK), Martin Kohler (SUI), Danilo Wyss (SUI), Dominik Nerz (GER), Darwin Atapuma (COL), Silvan Dillier (SUI), Larry Warbasse (USA).