Tour de France - Evans: It is time to win the Tour

AFP - Fri, 30 Oct 14:46:00 2009

Australia's Cadel Evans has said he is fed up of being the nearly man of the Tour de France and is more determined than ever to land cycling's greatest race.

CYCLING 2009 WCH Cadel Evans - 0

Evans has been dogged by doubt after finishing runner-up in the Tour in 2007 and 2008 and only managing a trouble-plagued 30th place in this year's event.

"I am tired of being known as the bloke who finishes second in the Tour de France," Evans said.

"I had a lot of bad luck this year but I am already looking ahead to next year and am more determined than ever to win it, I won't be satisfied until I have."

The Australian's challenge to this year's eventual winner Alberto Contador ended in the 15th stage, in what he said was one of his worst days of any Tour de France campaign when he fell well behind the leading pack and out of contention.

He had looked on course to win his first grand tour event in the three-week Tour of Spain in September.

However, an ill-timed puncture and bike problems at a crucial part of the 13th stage hindered his chances and he finished third overall.

But later in September the 32-year-old's luck changed as he became the first Australian to win the World Championship road race in Switzerland.

Evans said the honour of wearing the coveted world champion's rainbow jersey in races over the next year would help to ease some of the disappointment of the Tour de France.

"It was a great moment for me and the fact I get to wear the rainbow jersey for the rest of the year is a fantastic honour," said Evans, who has returned to Australia to launch his first book, Close to Flying.

"It is unlike the yellow jersey in the Tour de France as you never know how long you get to wear that, and it will mean a great deal to me to wear it in Geelong (Australia) for next year's World Championship."

Although he indicated last week that he would compete in Australia's Tour Down Under, Evans said he is still to decide whether he will take part in the Adelaide event in January and ride against American Lance Armstrong.

"There are still some things we need to work on. The race is very early in the year and the Tour de France is in July so I have to consider that," he said.

"That will be the focus of my attentions for 2010 along with the world championships at the back end of the year.

"We will just have to wait and see."

AFP

Comment 1 - 15 of 15

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  1. To win the Tour you've got to have a strong­ balanced team and excellent management. Cadel's­ been left alone too often. He was battling against the­ top riders in the world, who were aided by some­ brilliant team riders. He was alone most of the time­ when the chips were doen and trying to combat­ combinations of these riders' attacks. Let's­ see how he gets on with a really committed team around­ him.

    From r.braid, on Sat 31 Oct 10:54PM

  2. Dream on Cadel, dream on

    From Reefgirl, on Sat 31 Oct 6:23PM

  3. Like many posters here, I feel for Evans and really­ wish he could win the TdF... but just cannot see it­ happening.
    '
    Contadors will be in his prime,­ Armstrong will have an uber-team, the Schlecks have­ each other, a bunch of youngsters coming through (e.g.­ Kreuziger)... and Evans will be stuck with so-so­ Silence team.
    '
    Podium finish will be great,­ Evans. People DO remember the 2nd and 3rd placings -­ Poulidor, Beloki.

    From p, on Sat 31 Oct 11:48AM

  4. Let's wait and see; you never know what's round­ the corner.

    From Jeremy, on Sat 31 Oct 11:15AM

  5. Wiggins is not in the same class as Evans. Cadel had a­ bad tour it was nothing to do with Armstrong being­ there or how strong Contador was, he just had a bad­ tour and he will be back next year but Contador on the­ same form as last year will be unstoppable so he will­ have to be content on a podium place at best with Andy­ pushing him all the way. Lance will be strong and­ Wiggins will suffer on the climbs, so expect him to­ throw his bike into the crowd and blame his mechanic­ again.

    From paulandlyndsay, on Sat 31 Oct 11:11AM

  6. it would be nice to see winning somebody that is not­ contador or armstrong. The underdog is always more­ appealing that the media hype riders!

    From alexmn85, on Sat 31 Oct 9:25AM

  7. Evans in your dreams you might win the tour!!!!!!!!!!

    From Tamerair, on Fri 30 Oct 11:41PM

  8. Sorry Evans u just dont have what u need, i apreciate a­ man who doesnt quit, but u can't accelerate in the­ mountains, u're not a striker, even LA will have­ big dificulties to be in the top 5, Wiggins and Nibali­ will be much better in TDF 2010, TOP 5 TDF 2010­ (Contador, Andy, Wiggins, Nibali and maybe Armstrong),­ no place for u Evans really sorry for u

    From black_portugal, on Fri 30 Oct 9:47PM

  9. Its possible if Evans can transfer the Worlds form over­ 3 week tour. He suffering from the Ullrich problem-no­ guts to attack. Overcome that and then there is no­ reason why he cannot win at leasy 1 Grand Tour

    From graemeporte, on Fri 30 Oct 7:44PM

  10. If Evans can conquer himself he has a chance, it all­ stems back to the time he lead the giro and blew up big­ time since that he has always sat in and has taken no­ chances. To win the tour you have to take some chances­ and hope you have the loegs to hold them off, he is not­ that far behind in the time trial and can ride the­ cobbles and he is on a Belguim team so he will sail­ through the first week unlike Contador who will suffer­ I am sure. I hope he has got a new outlook as World­ champion and the way he won that day not a rider in the­ tour could have followed him so good luck Cadel and­ lets hope the jinx of the rainbow jersey doesnt bite­ you.

    From paulandlyndsay, on Fri 30 Oct 6:23PM

  11. Contador and Andy Schleck are too far ahead of him. In­ a good tour, he should be able to stay with the rest. A­ 40 year old Armstrong fighting moutaintop finishes (as­ opposed to all the downhill ones from this year), is­ going to be top a top 10 guy, but will struggle to be­ first on his team unless Leipheimer crashes again.­ Can't see it. Like his attitude. Let's hope­ it's not replaced by his excuses come July.

    From Maxx92, on Fri 30 Oct 4:10PM

  12. YOU CAN'T MAKE IT!! JUST FORGET.. IF YOU WANT TO­ WIN ONE OF THE BIG 3 TOURS FOCUS IN THE GIRO OR VUELTA

    From Vítor, on Fri 30 Oct 4:04PM

  13. I admire his pluck, but his best chance has been on­ gone - in fact, it went up the road at Alpe D'Huez­ on a Cervelo R3 SL in 2008. This year, he was hopeless­ - although we are led to believe there were valid­ reasons why. Unfortunately, he has been overtaken and­ left behind by better riders. Contador is a better­ climber, a better roleur and a better­ TTist..............

    From pedro118118, on Fri 30 Oct 3:34PM

  14. Forget it Evans. Unless Armstrong, Contador, the S.­ brothers get Diarrhea during the mountains days. Hey!­ It's possible.

    From tommy, on Fri 30 Oct 3:18PM

  15. soooo...those last few years evans wasn't this­ committed?
    and now he wants to take on Contador in the­ tour?

    not.going.to.happen.

    From the FISH, on Fri 30 Oct 3:14PM
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