Speaking at a media conference in Darwin, Tour de France champion Cadel Evans believes that he is still improving despite being 34 years of age, and that he is aiming to continue targeting the Tour at least until 2013.
“Two more Tours, two more good Tours at least,” Evans said when asked how long he would keep riding the event, according to AAP. “I keep improving and I am not showing signs of ageing in a physical way. As long I can be in the Tour to win it and go for the win, I want to keep going.”
In July Evans became the oldest Tour winner since Henri Pélissier in 1923, the Australian overhauling race leader Andy Schleck (Leopard Trek) in the final time trial. It was his best-ever Tour performance, improving on the second places achieved in 2007 and 2008, and came after tougher participations in 2009 and 2010.
He has said that he will once again focus his entire season on winning the 2012 race, and as a result will pass up the chance to compete on home soil in the Santos Tour Down Under in January. His season looks likely to begin in the Challenge Mallorca races, where Tour podium finishers Andy and Franck Schleck will also line out.
Another confirmed target next summer will be the Olympic Games where, depending on how he feels after the Tour, he could chase personal success in the London time trial and likely ride for the Australian team in the road race.