Aussie legend Cadel Evans returns to his home race for the first time since appearing as world champion in 2010. Evans, 36, has of course since gone on to become the first – and to date only – Australian Grand Tour winner with his 2011 Tour de France victory. And the veteran BMC Racing man has not given up on adding a second to his hugely impressive palmares, with the Giro d’Italia top of his 2014 wishlist.
As such, Evans is keen to kick-start his season with success in his home country and add the ochre jersey to his young riders’ jersey from 1999 and his two previous King of the Mountains successes. As proved at the Giro d’Italia last year, Evans still has the calibre to succeed in a stage race, and is desperate to prove he is not too old to be considered a serious contender for this year’s Italian Grand Tour. Tour of Qatar runner-up Brent Bookwalter leads the Australian’s support team, with the American team targeting strong rides in what they term a ‘difficult’ opening three stages. Come through them, and Evans will certainly be among the overall contenders.
