The 2011 race winner Cadel Evans’ chance of taking another Tirreno Adriatico title will hinge in part on how well his BMC Racing squad fares in the opening team time trial on Wednesday, with Evans saying that he will assess his chances after that appointment.
The Australian has shown a return to good form this year, with strong riding in his first race of the year, the Tour of Oman. He was third overall there, proving he is over the virus issues which hampered him in 2012. However riding well in Italy would do a lot to further boost his morale, and he will look to perform as well as is possible.
“Some of the biggest stage racing riders in the world will be there,” Evans said in advance of the race, which begins in two day’s time. “Strade Bianche was a good indication for me, though I didn't make the final in the front group. We'll see how the team time trial goes and then we'll take it from there.”
Evans has the advantage of a very strong team and will be backed by former world champion Thor Hushovd, the talented young American rider Taylor Phinney, Steve Cummings, Klaas Lodewyck, Manuel Quinziato, Michael Schär and Greg Van Avermaet.
It’s a lineup which could perform very well against the clock, giving them an early advantage over his rivals for the overall classification. The assistant team director Max Sciandri has said that this first effort will be a big focus.
“The most important thing is to get the team started in the right way in the team time trial,” he explained. “We certainly have the manpower to do well.”
Phinney will ride for Evans there and later in the race, but will also hope to perform well for himself in the concluding time trial, a 9.2 kilometre individual time trial. He went agonisingly close to winning the world TT championship last year and will have a chance to show what he can do in the Tirreno contest.
Sciandri, who knows the young American very well, has faith in his chances. “The course for that last time trial is a great one for him,” he affirmed.