His chances of leading BMC Racing Team’s Tour de France squad looked shaky earlier this year when he was below par in several races, but Cadel Evans’ strong Giro d’Italia performance has led to a vote of confidence from team president Jim Ochowicz.
The American told the Sydney Morning Herald that the Australian would get full backing. “"Sure ... that's clear,” he said, when asked if Evans would be the number one for the Tour. “It solidifies that. You have to have the confidence and he does. This is a great performance here.”
Evans is currently second overall, sitting one minute 26 seconds behind the ongoing leader Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) and will hope to get closer to the Maglia Rosa in today’s mountain time trial to Olsa.
It is his best Grand Tour performance since he won the 2011 Tour de France, and sees the 36 year old turn back the clock in being able to ride stronger than far younger competitors.
In last year’s Tour he finished seventh, two places behind his team-mate Tejay Van Garderen. The latter is also riding very well, winning his first major pro stage race this month in taking the Tour of California.
While his fans might like to see him get top billing for the Tour, Evans’ Giro ride means that he will hold on to protected status for one more year, although van Garderen is seen as the team’s best bet for the longer term.
Ochowicz sees the two as a strong duo for the Tour, thus hinting that van Garderen may also have his chances.
“Tejay is a great young athlete coming up. He is learning from Cadel. He and Cadel and are a pretty formative package,” he said. “When you put the rest of our group for the Tour [with them], I'm pretty happy with how we can cover all the bases.”
To contend in the Tour Evans will have to be able to recover completely from the Giro d’Italia. The last time he did both races in 2010, he faltered in the Tour, but that was at least partially down to a fracture to his elbow.
“With his experience and physiology and mental consciousness, he can manage two Grand Tours,” Ochowicz insisted.