Six days until new Canadian stage race, then single day WorldTour events will follow
Out of action since the end of the Tour de France but believing he has made much progress since then, Cadel Evans will resume competition next Tuesday in the Tour of Alberta, the new Canadian 2.1-ranked UCI stage race.
The Australian BMC Racing Team rider will be one of the top names to compete in the event, which runs from September 3rd to 8th, along with Peter Sagan (Cannondale) and Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin Sharp).
Evans had been fatigued after riding both the Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France, finishing on the podium in the former but well off the pace in the latter, and has concentrated on recharging his battery in the weeks since.
“I was very fatigued after this year’s Tour de France, so I took some time to rest at home with my family,” he said. “Now I’m back into a serious phase of training to be ready for the final part of the season. The training has been coming along. From where I was at the end of July, I have made a lot of progress.
“After such a break from competition, I will need some racing kilometres in my legs to be at a competitive level.”
The Tour of Alberta will be his chance to do that, after which he will go on to compete in the single day WorldTour events, the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec (Sept. 13) and Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal (Sept. 15).
The Tour of Alberta stage race begins with a prologue in Edmonton on September third and concludes five days later in Calgary.
“From what I have seen on paper, I think it will be a race for someone with a decent sprint who can make it to the harder finishes,” said Evans, who then laid out his goals. “Firstly I’d just like get some racing in my legs and hopefully test myself on one of the later, more selective stages.”
As for the two one day events, he is pleased to get a chance to compete there. “These are two races which I have wanted to do for some time,” he said. “Finally, this year it’s possible for me to participate. In both Québec and Montréal I intend to be at a level that will allow me to go for a result.”
The BMC Racing Team hasn’t yet released details of his racing calendar after the Canadian events. However a team spokesman said that Evans planned to ride the world road race championships, and that the Canadian races were part of his build-up to that.