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The 33-year-old Australian made headlines late last year when he severed ties with former team Silence-Lotto, buying his way out of contract to join team BMC Racing. To many, the then reigning world champion had taken a big gamble joining the Pro Continental team that was not guaranteed a start at the
2010 Tour de France. But the 33-year-old had done his research before making the move and was not surprised when the outfit, who his manager
began talking to in July 2009, was recently granted ProTour status for the 2011
season.
Proving the team was worthy of its wild card entry to this year's Tour by placing its leader in the yellow jersey is one of two season highlights for Evans. "Three months before it we were being criticised for not being a worthy team," he said. "To prove our worth and take the lead of the race that was a pretty special moment." The other was winning the seventh stage of the Giro d'Italia covered in mud. "Brown roads not white roads," Evans quipped. "We did so much work on course reconnaissance then it all came together in those conditions. They're telling me it's going to be a stage that's going to be remembered for years to come."
began talking to in July 2009, was recently granted ProTour status for the 2011
season.
Proving the team was worthy of its wild card entry to this year's Tour by placing its leader in the yellow jersey is one of two season highlights for Evans. "Three months before it we were being criticised for not being a worthy team," he said. "To prove our worth and take the lead of the race that was a pretty special moment." The other was winning the seventh stage of the Giro d'Italia covered in mud. "Brown roads not white roads," Evans quipped. "We did so much work on course reconnaissance then it all came together in those conditions. They're telling me it's going to be a stage that's going to be remembered for years to come."
Evans will start his 2011 season in March at Tuscany's Strade Bianche Eroica after a race-laden schedule in 2010 that began at January's Tour Down Under and finished at October's Tour of Lombardy. He plans to enter the Tour de France for "his own personal interest" fresh before possibly returning to the Tour of Spain two years after he was in a box seat to take out the overall what would have been his first Grand Tour victory before a mechanical during the 13th stage cost him valuable time.
"I always seem to have energy left for another Grand Tour it seems in the past years," he said.
"I've enjoyed doing the Vuelta the last few years, apart from the bad luck I had two years ago. Hopefully, by the time it comes around again I would have forgotten about that." The Tirreno-Adriatico, Amstel Gold Race, Fleche Wallonne and Dauphine Libere are also all on the early race program and Evans is confident he can maintain if not improve the form that saw him win Fleche Wallonne this year and wear the leader's jersey at both the Giro and Tour.
Respected cycling coach Aldo Sassi agrees as Evans continues to chase his first Grand Tour victory. "Some people thought I was already done but my coach, Aldo Sassi, at the start of this year he said, 'For sure three years at this level, for sure'," Evans said. "That would mean two more good Tours in my mind. "When you're on the way out to be there as a support role for someone else I'd consider, but while I can be there for the win I want to be there 100 per cent.
"Aldo Sassi says two years and he's rarely wrong on these things so I have confidence in his experience."
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Spyns Tours and TDF Tours specialize in Tour de France packages for both riders, non-riders, and mixed tours. Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2011 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2011 Tour de France tours, please visit http://www.tdf-tours.com/ http://www.spyns.com/ or call 1.888.825.4720.
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