Evans, Hincapie extend with BMC

Cadel Evans will return to BMC Racing alongside George Hincapie in 2012, the team announced Monday. Fresh off his Tour de France title, Evans extended his contract with the American squad through 2014, while Hincapie signed a one-year extension.

“Having these two return to the BMC Racing Team next year allows for our continued growth by having our two captains stay on board to provide leadership and mentoring to others in our organization,” said team president Jim Ochowicz. “In George’s case, we need him to help the young guys like Taylor Phinney and Greg Van Avermaet keep developing. For everyone else, he creates leadership in the classics and at the Tour de France.”

Evans has achieved new heights with BMC since joining the squad in 2010 and is said to be hopeful that he will end his career with the team. Then the world road champion, Evans wore the maglia rosa of the Giro d’Italia and the yellow jersey in the Tour last year after winning La Flèche Wallonne. In 2011 the Aussie has won the overall at the Tour, Tirreno-Adriatico and the Tour de Romandie.

“I feel that as a team, we have grown successfully together,” said Evans. “It’s been an enjoyable and satisfying journey so far. From the start, I have always felt the BMC Racing Team has had a lot of confidence in me as a member and often as a leader of the team. So a longer term contract echoes this. I look forward to the years ahead. We will keep working and progressing toward the future.”

With Evans’ win, BMC Racing’s road captain Hincapie earned his record ninth Tour de France title as a domestique. He started his record-tying 16th Tour and will return for his 19th professional season.

“I’m really excited to continue the success of the team,” said Hincapie. “My two years with the BMC Racing Team have been even better than my expectations. Being able to help Cadel win the Tour de France was a career highlight for me. To be able to continue on for another year offers me more opportunities to extend the goodwill of the team.”