BMC Racing’s Cadel Evans rounded out the podium in third this week at the Tirreno-Adriatico in Italy. The current World Champion has been making an impression on the peloton early this year, and spoke at the conclusion of the seven-day event about his and the team’s performance.
“We came here to function well rather than go for results. To scrape onto the podium is a good indication that it has been successful.”
Earlier this year at the Tour Down Under he finished fifth, and with the Critérium International just eleven days away, Cadel is keeping his cards close to his chest regarding his form: “We are always working to improve.”
Neither the Tour Down Under or Tirreno-Adriatico included a time trial. The Critérium International, as tradition, includes an opening day time trial and will be his first in competition this year. With just three stages, a solid result against the clock is important to secure a high placing.
“We have been limited with the amount of time trials we’ve had this year and Tirreno-Adriatico not having a time trial was a little bit unusual. But in some ways it was good so we have a little more time to prepare everything for the time trial. But it is nice to have a couple of tests before competition which can be useful.”
The time trial at the Criterium International is the only chrono he will ride before the Giro d’Italia in May. As a man on a list of favorites for the overall in the Italian Tour, he gives mixed signals about the upcoming test.
“I look forward to the time trial in the Critérium International so I can see how everything is going. But also with a bit of anxiety in case it doesn’t go well because we don’t have that many tests to do [before the Giro]. We’ll see. I don’t think I’ll be at my best but of course I have to give everything a good test in competition.”
The ASO owns the Critérium International and a strong result by Team BMC there will show the worth of awarding a wildcard invitation to its most prized race, the Tour de France.