The defence of his Tour de France title will undoubtedly be of prime importance to Cadel Evans next year but the Australian has said that he is also open to competing in the Olympic Games. He said that he will structure his program in such a way as to try to ensure that he is still in peak form for the London road race.
“For us, it's something I've done before and I have to manage it very carefully as it falls six or eight days after the Tour,” he told the Herald Sun. “But if the Australian team want me, I'll be there with bells on.”
Evans finished 15th in the road race in Beijing, and was a strong fifth in the time trial there. If he times hitting form just right, he should be able to come out of the Tour de France in good condition.
“I'll be there 110 per cent. The plan after the Tour is to extend that period of focus to London and I'm guessing I can be of help to the Australian team. I'll have a real crack at it,” he said.
Many have predicted a sprint could settle the road race, but if so, it is likely to be from a select group due to earlier demands on the London course. Although the bulk of his career results have come from stage races, Evans’ victory in the 2009 world road race championships plus the 2010 Flèche Wallonne show that he can also shine in single day events.