Published December 15, 2009 11:16AM
Reigning world champion Cadel Evans has confirmed that he will ride the Giro d’Italia for the first time in eight years next May.
In an interview with Italy’s sports daily, Gazzetta dello Sport, Evans said that he planned to take on the Giro and will also race two more events organized by RCS Sports, the Monte Paschi Eroica on March 6 and Tirreno-Adriatico, which runs from March 10 to 16.
Evans made his first mark in grand tour racing in 2002, when he finished 14th and wore the leader’s jersey for a day.
The Giro starts in Rotterdam in the Netherlands on May 8 and finishes in Verona, Italy, on May 30.
The 32-year-old world champion, now a member of the BMC team, could be a major contender for the overall title next May. Defending champion Denis Menchov is also expected to race the Giro, but former winner Alberto Contador has already said he will skip the race, focusing his energies on July’s Tour de France. Evans has twice finished second overall in the Tour and won the UCI ProTour title in 2007.
Evans will be joined by his BMC teammate, former world champion Alessandro Ballan. Giro director Angelo Zomegnan said he was pleased by BMC’s decision to send both riders to the race.
“It’s a proud moment for all of us at RCS,” said Zomegnan.