Tour de France - Evans to leave Silence Lotto

Reuters - Sat, 31 Oct 21:11:00 2009

World champion Cadel Evans of Australia will leave the Silence Lotto team at the end of the year.

CYCLING 2009 Mondiaux Mendrisio Cadel Evans - 0

"After five successful years, including two podium places in the Tour de France and the recent victory in Mendrisio, Cadel has decided to take advantage of his increased market value and look for new challenges," the Belgian team said in a statement.

The 32-year-old, a twice Tour de France runner-up, claimed the most significant victory of his career when he won the road race at the world championships in Switzerland last month.

Marc Sergeant, sportive manager: After an incredible end of the season, with victories of Cadel Evans and Philippe Gilbert, our team ends sixth in the 2009 Pro Tour ranking.

We thank Cadel for his unique contribution to this achievement, and we are confident that, with the existing and emerging talents, Omega Pharma-Lotto will continue to experience many sportive peaks in the future. Congratulations and good luck to Cadel.

We hope we can coach even more cyclists to reach their top level, to the benefit of the cyclists concerned, the team as well as the beautiful sport discipline that cycling is.

Reuters

Comment 1 - 14 of 14

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  1. BMC have bought the jersey, not the rider. As a­ non-ProTour team, they need it to gain entry to the big­ races. A marriage of convenience - BMC get the rainbow­ jersey, Evans gets a big pay rise. Other than that,­ nothing much is likely to change - Evans will ride­ consistantly and gain good placings, but won't get­ anywhere near the podium at the Tour - his best chance­ was 2008 and he blew it.

    From pedro118118, on Mon 2 Nov 8:21PM

  2. I'm pretty sure I read earlier that he's signed­ for BMC.

    From Steve, on Mon 2 Nov 7:38AM

  3. I watched the World champs road race and commented on­ the brilliant tactical ride by Cadel, it was brilliant.­ However, he's been involved at the sharp end during­ so many other high profile events and­ achieved...........

    From terrytrudgian, on Mon 2 Nov 5:13AM

  4. , why asking the team ot get moreno in for the­ mountains..when moreno sign for Lotto he want to leave­ after 5years finally he won something .. this is not­ beeing greatfull , he dont have enough confident that­ he will be better than his teammate VAN DEN BROEK, a­ true loser, he should have won the tour of 2008

    From Ra, on Mon 2 Nov 1:59AM

  5. Apparently Contador has already said he wil stay with­ Astana until the end of 2010 when his contract expires.­ As for Wiggo, it would be nice for SKY to have him but­ surely he's best staying where he is as Garmin will­ look after him very well and he has a very good and­ experienced team around him who will also work for him­ so that could mean LOTTO minus EVANS = SKY ?? Isn't­ SKY owned by Murdoch (Australian)? We'll see!!

    From Jeremy, on Mon 2 Nov 12:40AM

  6. a sigh of relief for loosin the world champion really?­ did you think that comment through?

    From djwiners, on Sun 1 Nov 7:40PM

  7. Post 2, no, Sky have no GC rider on the roster at the­ moment. And Cadel is not GC either I'm afraid. As a­ Brit I'm praying for Wiggo.

    From terrytrudgian, on Sun 1 Nov 6:36PM

  8. 'What a graceful team'. Can I ask how far your­ tongue was in your cheek when you made that comment.­ The team's comments seem like the hugest sigh of­ relief ever.

    From terrytrudgian, on Sun 1 Nov 6:33PM

  9. What a graceful team. im also surprised that­ vandenbroek hasnt returned a positive drugs test from­ the tour as he was in neary every mountain break away­ just like schumacher the year before

    From djwiners, on Sun 1 Nov 5:22PM

  10. Seems to be tailor made for Sky, but I think we need to­ see what happens with Wiggins to Sky, but of course­ that is dependent on Contador to Garmin, which is­ unlikely. Fun, fun, fun.

    From Tracy, on Sun 1 Nov 10:17AM

  11. Finally, his apologists will have to stop blaming his­ team.

    From Thomas, on Sun 1 Nov 7:57AM

  12. About time too. He needs a much better team to have a­ chance of winning the Tour. Lotto should have stuck to­ trying for stage wins and the green jersey with Robbie­ McEwan. They are not a Tour-winning team. They had no­ depth in riders or management expertise to help Cadel­ win the Tour.

    From r.braid, on Sun 1 Nov 6:00AM

  13. Here is an example for the fools who run Astana, how to­ be graceful,respectable and accept the wishes of any­ rider, uncluding your teams star, when they wish to­ leave the squad, and not drag the process out. Good­ luck next year Cadel, do Team Sky have a GC guy who can­ get on the podium/win the Tour next year?

    From demi162, on Sun 1 Nov 5:53AM

  14. Off to Team Sky with Simon Gerrans?

    From Chris, on Sun 1 Nov 5:20AM
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