Evans denies plans for Giro
Cadel Evans has denied he will ride in next year's Giro d'Italia, putting him at odds with his Silence-Lotto team, reports said. Race organizers on Wednesday announced that the 31-year-old runner-up in the past two Tours de France was set to take on seven-time Tour champion Lance Armstrong in the Giro next May. The race director of his Belgian team, Roberto Damiani, also said that Evans would ride in the three-week Italian stage race. But Evans, who is currently in Australia preparing another assault on the Tour de France, on Friday denied he would be taking part.
By Agence France Presse
Cadel Evans has denied he will ride in next year’s Giro d’Italia, putting him at odds with his
Silence-Lotto team, reports said.
Race organizers on Wednesday announced that the 31-year-old runner-up in the past two Tours de France was set to take on seven-time Tour champion Lance Armstrong in the Giro next May.
The race director of his Belgian team, Roberto Damiani, also said that Evans would ride in the three-week Italian stage race.
But Evans, who is currently in Australia preparing another assault on the Tour de France, on Friday denied he would be taking part.
“I didn’t announce I would be riding the Giro, the organizers did. I am not riding the Giro next year, my focus will be on winning the Tour de France in July,” Evans said, in comments carried by the Cycling Weekly site.
“They announced I would be riding because they want publicity for their race. I have never said I would ride the Giro.”
Evans said the Giro d’Italia was the furthest thing from his mind since returning to riding two weeks ago.
After a short off-season lay off, he said he has been solely focused on preparing his body for the Tour de France in July.
The report said Evans, despite signing a new two-year contract with Silence-Lotto this year, criticised the team for letting Yaroslav Popovych leave for Astana and failing to replace Bernhard Kohl after his positive test for a banned blood booster.
Evans’ presence at the 2009 Giro d’Italia has sparked a war of words with the team, it said.
The Giro will start in Venice on May 9.