There’s more good news for BMC after the team secured its second major European race invitation of the week.

Just days after scoring a bid to race Criterium International (March 29-30), the second-year American squad earned its first ProTour invitation from the Tour de Romandie (April 29-May 4).

Romandie’s press attaché Patrick Lang said BMC is the lone wildcard for the Swiss stage race that will also include all 18 ProTour teams. Lang said a 20th team could be added if there’s enough money from organizers.

Strong ties between Romandie organizers and title sponsor BMC, a bike frame company owned by ex-Phonak sponsor and Swiss businessman Andy Rhis, helped grease the way.

BMC is impressing race organizers in 2008 with a deeper squad, aggressive tactics, a strong anti-doping line and the arrival of sport director John Lelangue.

The team also earned a bid in January for the Tour of Qatar, a race organized by Tour de France and Criterium International owners ASO, and earned the most aggressive team prize at the recent Tour of California.

“This is a big deal for us. It is a very prestigious race and has a parcours well-suited for our style of riding,” said Lelangue, referring to the Criterium International invitation. “We have done well in California, but even in Qatar, which is a race with an ASO presence, we were making a good impression. The guys rode well and looked good. Add to that our anti-doping efforts, and we hope to present a powerful argument promoting our right to be invited to these sorts of high-caliber races.”

The team’s goals include to slowly expand its European racing schedule. So far, things seem to be headed in the right direction.