New world champion Cadel Evans will get to show off his world champions’ jersey for the first time this Sunday when he lines out in the Coppa Sabatini in Italy. “I want to honour the rainbow jersey, even if my legs are logically tired after a draining season,” he told journalists at yesterday’s press conference.
After Sunday’s race, he’ll have just three more before taking a break for the winter. The Giro dell’Emilia on Saturday week will be followed by the Giro del Piemonte (October 15) and his big target, the Giro di Lombardia (October 17).
Meanwhile other big names will square up in tomorrow’s Sparkassen Münsterland Giro in Germany. Columbia HTC features several worlds riders, including Andre Greipel, Edvald Boasson Hagen, Tony Martin and Bert Grabsch, while Saxo Bank has Kurt Asle Arvesen, Chris Anker Sorensen and Karsten Kroon, who were 12th, 13th and 20th in Mendrisio.
Milram is sending a strong team which includes Gerald Ciolek and Linus Gerdemann, while Cervélo will be led by Philip Deignan. José Angel Gomez Marchante and Giro d’Italia stage winner Ingnatas Konovalovas will support the Irishman, who wants to add another good result to his Vuelta stage victory.
On Sunday last year’s winner Mikhaylo Khalilov (Ceramica Flaminia Bossini Docce) wears race number 1 in the Memorial Cimurri in Italy. He’ll have to overcome some big guns if he wants to win again, though, with Alessandro Petacchi (LPR Farnase Vini), Ivan Basso (Liquigas), Matteo Tosatto (Quick Step), Filippo Pozzato, Mikahail Ignatiev (Team Katusha), Linus Gerdemann (Milram) and Michele Scarponi (Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni) amongst those making life difficult for him.
Many riders are tired after a long season but with the calendar spanning more months of the year, they will have to add some more race days before finally getting a break.