If there was any question, Cadel Evans (BMC Racing) provided the answer to whether or not he would be back in a featured role within his team in the 2013 Tour de France. Evans will indeed return for another year with the yellow jersey in mind, as he is planning an assault on the overall classification in 2013, when he will be aged 36.
After the 2012 Tour de France came to a conclusion in Paris on Sunday, with Evans finishing seventh overall, the Aussie indicated that he would attempt to take the yellow jersey to the Champs Élysées one more time before handing primary general classification duties over to Tejay Van Garderen. The American was just the third from his country to take the white jersey to Paris after the BMC Racing apprentice did so on Sunday.
All was not lost on Evans after his relatively disappointing seventh place finish, given that he entered the race on almost equal ground with co-favourites Bradley Wiggins (Sky Procycling) and Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas-Cannondale). After taking the title in 2011 but coming up short this year, motivation will be higher in 2013, according to Evans.
“Absolutely, [I’ll be back next year], and I think I will be a bit hungrier,” Evans stated according to Cycling Central. “I should come back 100 percent better than this year, that’s for sure. I will work everything for a bigger and better Tour and I think I still have the capabilities to win.”
After taking a stage win and the overall victory in 2011, the importance of that triumph had not escaped the Aussie, even on Sunday. After reaching the pinnacle and then coming down a bit a year later, Evans was able to comment on both feelings.
“Last year was a realization of a career of dreams,” he continued. “This year, it’s not full of disappointments, but it’s certainly below expectations. Finishing off a Tour is always a satisfaction. Winning is a lot more fun. This sport is a lot easier when you’re winning. When you’re having a bad time, it’s the hardest sport in the world.”
Evans had a bad time in the Tour’s final week, struggling with poor health and poor legs through the Pyrenees. He saluted Sky Procycling and their duo that decimated the rest of the field, Wiggins and Christopher Froome.
“[Wiggins] is a very deserved winner and this year he and Froome were clearly the best riders in the race, and Sky was certainly the best team,” Evans admitted.
The humble Australian also spoke of valued domestique George Hincapie, who completed his 17th and final Tour alongside his BMC Racing captain.
“He’s really one of a kind and I've always admired him even before I knew him," Evans said of Hincapie. “He's always been so professional. He's the first rider to go to bed at night and he's the first guy up in the morning, still at his age now. Having him as a teammate is like having an extra set of eyes. It's incredible his experience and his eyes for the race.”