Richie Porte has admitted to being nervous just a week before the start of the Tour de France.

But the Australian star has got the full backing of his BMC team who say they are “all in for Richie” after naming the squad that will hopefully support his yellow jersey efforts.

Porte is a big favourite to challenge for the Tour de France win this year, although he will have to battle hard to beat reigning champion Chris Froome.

BMC have named Damiano Caruso, Alessandro De Marchi, Stefan Küng, Amaël Moinard, Nicolas Roche, Michael Schär, Greg Van Avermaet and Danilo Wyss as their other riders in Le Tour.

And Porte said: “BMC Racing Team has put a great team together around Greg Van Avermaet and me. I think we have strength in all of the areas needed.

“The Tour de France is the big goal of the season and it has been a great season so far. I can definitely take confidence from my races and I feel like I’m where I need to be knowing that July is when I need to perform.

“I am definitely a mix of excited and nervous. You can’t deny that the Tour de France is the biggest goal of the season, but that means it’s also another level of stress. It’s a balance of being well-prepared and fresh enough to race at the highest level across 21 stages, but I feel like I’m in that position now.”

BMC sports director Fabio Baldato has made it clear that their main goal is to be celebrating with Porte on the Champs-Élysées on July 23.

“Of course, we are lining up to win the race, to win the yellow jersey,” he said. “We are going all in for Richie. All nine of our riders are coming to the Tour de France in good condition and we have a strong team. These are the riders who will protect Richie and bring him to the line safely.”

Team Sky have named a strong squad to support Froome’s bid for a fourth Tour de France victory.

Specialist climbers Mikel Landa, Mikel Nieve and Sergio Henao are all selected, along with Geraint Thomas, Michal Kwiatkowski, Vasil Kiryienka, Christian Knees and Luke Rowe.