BMC sporting director Yvon Ledanois has warned their Paris-Nice rivals that lead rider Tejay van Garderen is ready to mount a challenge for the title.

The American headlines BMC's team for an event he was forced to drop out of last year due to illness.

Van Garderen - who took over from Cadel Evans as lead rider at the beginning of last year - heads into the race, which starts in the Parisian suburb of Maurepas on Sunday, having finished second in the Tour of Oman last month.

And, although the field features seven Grand Tour winners, Ledanois has total faith in Van Garderen's ability to secure the victory.

"This year for Tejay is a little bit different, I think," Ledanois said. "Last year was the first time he had responsibility of being a leader after Cadel Evans, but it was a good experience for him and he's changed a little.

"He's taken on more responsibility and he knows that Paris-Nice is important for him and the team. Tejay is ready. He's not ready at 90 per cent, he's ready at 100 per cent. And we have a lot of riders at 100 per cent for Paris-Nice, not just Tejay.

"We have ambitions for him for top five, top three, sure, but we're going for the win. After that, you never know. He's a young rider, he wants to win."

Bradley Wiggins will head the Team Sky assault as the 2012 Tour de France winner continues his farewell tour before leaving in April to start his new team and focus on preparations for the 2016 Olympic Games.

Carlos Betancur has opted to skip his defence of the title he won last year, with Jean-Christophe Peraud and Romain Bardet - second and sixth in last year's Tour de France - likely to spearhead Ag2r-La Mondiale's challenge in his absence.

Former race winners Tony Martin (Etixx-Quick Step) and Luis Leon Sanchez (Astana) will also hope to be in contention

Meanwhile, Andrew Talansky is sure to be keen to go one better than his runner-up finish in 2013 and prevent compatriot Van Garderen from stealing the show in an event known as the 'Race to the Sun'.