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LATEST NEWS: CADEL EVANS HAS A BIGGER CHALLENGE NOW
Road Bike Action and AFP
January 28, 2012
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Australian Cadel Evans believes recent additions to his BMC team
will play a crucial role as he bids to cement his place in cycling's
history books by defending his Tour de France crown in July. But the yellow jersey champion admits his historic feat could pale in
comparison with a longer-term challenge - that of being a father to
his newly-adopted son.
"A Tour de France win only lasts until you lose one, a son you have
for the rest of your life," Evans told media in a BMC team conference
from Spain late Friday.
Evans, Australia's first winner of cycling's premier event, revealed
barely two weeks ago that he and his Italian wife Chiara had adopted a
baby boy.
Robel, who was found abandoned in a box at the side of the road as a
baby, was adopted from an orphanage in Ethiopia just days after
Christmas. With no brothers or sisters of his own, Evans admits he is
taking to his new role tentatively, but with optimism.
Confirming he became a father "officially on 28th of December", Evans
added: "I go into it being a complete novice father - I have no
brothers or sisters to learn from their children. It's been a lot of
fun. I can't believe how keen I am to get home these days! But really,
I'm still coming to terms with it all."
When it comes to the Tour de France, former two-time runner-up Evans
is much better versed. While his team played a vital role last year, BMC
have beefed up their squad in the wake of the formidable Schleck
brothers joining RadioShack-Nissan, and with Spaniard Alberto Contador
making a possible return to the race.
Andy Schleck came runner-up on the race for the third time last year,
and with brother Frank also racing under Johan Bruyneel, who steered
both Lance Armstrong and Contador to multiple titles, they will be among
Evans' biggest challengers.
"You can't argue with Johan Bruyneel's record. It's pretty difficult
to say there's a better Tour de France (team) director than him, given
the number of wins he has," said Evans. "That would indicate the Schleck
brothers are in, if not the best hands, better hands. They're certainly
going to be a force to be reckoned with and more than likely the guys
to beat in July."
Evans may also have to contend with three-time champion Contador,
whose fate following a positive doping test at the 2010 Tour de France
is set to be decided by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) next
week.
The 2012 edition of the Tour is dominated by time trials, making
Evans, Contador, Britain's Bradley Wiggins and American Levi Leipheimer
the early contenders. Of Contador, Evans would only say: "Assuming he's starting the Tour, he's going to be one of the guys to beat."
Evans, meanwhile, insists he will benefit from the recent addition to
BMC of multi-talented Belgian Philippe Gilbert and 2010 world champion
Thor Hushovd of Norway, among others. Despite both being marquee names,
Evans insisted: "You need those guys by your side. There's been talk of
too many leaders in one team but that depends on personalities and I
really look forward to racing with Phil again as a teammate."
When it comes to the June 30-July 22 Tour, the whole BMC organisation
will be expected to go beyond the call of duty for Evans.
"It's fairly clear at the Tour what our objective is," added the
Australian. "Our objective is to repeat the result of last year and that
means all eggs in one basket and those guys sacrificing themselves for
me."
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