After leaving Belgium’s Silence-Lotto, from reports Down Under World Champion Cadel Evans looks poised to join the American Garmin Slipstream team despite earlier reports that linked him to the up-and-coming American BMC formation, home of National champion George Hincapie.
According to The Australian News, Evans will join American stage racer Christan Vande Velde at Garmin while Englishman Bradley Wiggins makes the jump to Team Sky. Evans will clear up all the rumors at a press conference in Adelaide today.
Speculation has spurred after the Australian news source learned that Dave Brailsford, the Team Sky principal, flew to New York today to undergo negotiations buying out Wiggins from the American team. Sources close to the Australian News say such a deal would cost the British team close to $2 million, after a successful year that saw him gain a fourth place at the Tour de France.
Garmin’s Australian team director Matt White was far from surprised when he heard of Evans departure the Belgian formation. "Cadel was keen to get out of Silence," White said yesterday. In regards to Evans joining Garmin, he replied "Cadel has been looking to go to a team that would help him win the Tour de France for a while now. I'd love to have him at Garmin-Slipstream."
Evans' press conference later today will finally clear up the mystery with most reports pointing towards BMC.