Tour de France: Cadel Evans' BMC team ready to go head-to-head with Chris Froome and Sky Procycling

CADEL Evans' BMC Racing Team is considering emulating the shock-and-awe tactics used against them in 2011 in a bid to topple Christopher Froome.

Cadel Evans

CADEL Evans' BMC Racing Team is considering emulating the shock-and-awe tactics used against them in 2011 in a bid to topple the might of Tour de France favourite Christopher Froome.

Evans' key lieutenant for the Tour starting on Saturday, Tejay van Garderen, said the team faced a "daunting task'' to stop Sky Procycling from winning back-to-back yellow jerseys.

Van Garderen told Cyclingtips.com.au's online show `The Bike Lane' that it would require BMC to be aggressive much like 2011 runner-up Andy Schleck was when he launched a daring attack to win a stage up the Col du Galibier.

"You could see some tactics like the Schlecks did in 2011 against Cadel, Andy went in a long breakaway and Frank was sitting on his wheel and Cadel was isolated having to chase it all back, we could see something like that,'' van Garderen told the show's host Scott McGrory.

"It's good to have two people close on time so we have more cards to play, if I was half an hour down and attacked they would say 'let him go' but if I'm close it puts them under a bit of pressure.''

American van Garderen finished the Tour in fifth place last year and won the white jersey as the race's best young rider which led to speculation he may topple Evans as team leader in 2013.

But he said the Australian had his full support.

"I spoke to Cadel and we're both on the same page. He knows I'm an ambitious rider but I'm there to help him and I'm still young so have plenty of years ahead of me,'' van Garderen said."He's definitely the outright leader but if I'm there to help him out on the mountains and as long as I don't lose time on the flats who knows maybe I can do another white jersey while he takes yellow.

"(But) that's not the focus. The main focus is to get Cadel the win and if I happen to get white in the process then that would be a byproduct of me doing my good work which would be staying with Cadel in the mountains.''

BMC's line-up for the race includes six of the riders who piloted Evans to overall victory in 2011.

"I am happy to have my three 'guardian angels' - (Manuel) Quinziato, (Marcus) Burghardt and (Michael) Schar - around me, plus Brent (Bookwalter), Amael (Moinard) and Steve (Morabito) from our successful 2011 team," Evans told his BMC team website. "And with Tejay coming into the mix, we are a lot stronger in the mountains than in past years.

"It will be crucial to be consistent everywhere - on the flat stages and time trials. The climbs will be particularly important this year. Avoiding bad luck is always key as well.''

While the individual time trial and stages in the Alps in the third week are expected to prove decisive, Evans knows the importance of remaining vigilant in what can be a treacherous first week as well.

In 2011 one of his main rivals Alberto Contador was caught behind on a crash and lost over a minute on Stage 1 which forced him to chase for the remainder of the Tour.

Fabio Baldato who directed Evans at the Giro d'Italia in May said Evans' attention to "the little things" could make the difference throughout the Tour.

"Cadel has shown he can be good in all areas - whether it's a technical parcours or a tricky final, he will be there,'' Baldato said. "We saw this at the Giro. In situations like this, he's good and is always in good position. Plus, he has a great team around him to put him in the front.''