Silence-Lotto director sportif Marc Sergeant and the team’s financial manager Geert Coeman met with Cadel Evans earlier this week in Italy to discuss his situation with the team. After having a disappointing Tour de France, where rumors about his position in the team were rampant, the two parties met to try to clear the air.
“It was a constructive conversation,” Sergeant told Nieuwsblad.be, who was pleased to see the Australian relaxed and recovered mentally from the Tour. “All of our misunderstandings [during the Tour] were addressed. Cadel thought that on the last day of the Tour he would be fired, something he heard from an Australian journalist. Complete nonsense of course, but it did not help the situation.”
Evans said in an interview with the Belgian paper that his problem in the Tour was mainly a physical problem that affected his breathing.
But Sergeant thinks there was more to it than just physical problems.
“Everyone has their story, but I still believe that he completely collapsed mentally.
“But I think he has everything in order now. He is motivated to do well in the Vuelta. Two years ago he finished fourth,” added Sergeant.
It looks like Evans is set to lead the Belgian team for 2010, and will likely play a big roll in bringing along teammate Jurgen Van Den Broeck, who placed a surprising 15th in the overall in the Tour. The 26-year-old proved he could be a big asset to Evans in the mountains, and is likely where the Belgian team will focus their Grand Tour hopes in the not too distant future.