Cadel Evans Jumps to BMC, Expects Full Support in Grand Tours

Cadel Evans, like he did in Mendrisio at the world championships, acted swiftly and decisively over the final few weeks of the 2009 cycling season, and Australia's best stage racer has chosen to sign with the American BMC team for 2010. The newly crowned world champion bought himself out of the final year of his contract with the Silence-Lotto team, and inked a three year deal with BMC, joining such cycling stars as George Hincapie, Alessandro Ballan and Karsten Kroon on the suddenly powerful BMC squad.

Evans left Lotto for what he perceived to be total lack of support in the grand tours, and in particular the Tour de France. And who could blame him. Year in and year out over his five seasons with Lotto, Evans seemed to arrive at the Tour already at a disadvantage, leading weak teams susceptible to being attacked and isolated in the high mountains, to say nothing of the team time trials.

Now at BMC, Evans will have a strong team to support his attempt to finally bag a three week tour. Evans has been close in the past, and the mental advantage of having a strong team behind him could prove to be the deciding factor in pushing him to the top step of a grand tour podium.

BMC management and riders alike have expressed a desire to ride in the 2010 Tour, and with their new line up there should be no issue in inviting them to compete in the French stage race. Evans, as world champion, will add color to the race, and the veteran tactics of Hincapie and Kroon could lead to stage wins for the BMC team. Add former world champion Alessandro Ballan to the mix, and you have four riders capable of battling for at least stage wins at the Tour next year.

Now that he will have a functional team to support his attempt at taking top honors at the Tour, the next question is whether Evans can handle the pressure that goes along with being a true favorite for the Tour. He'll be a marked man by fans and media alike heading into next year's race as a strong individual rider with a strong support team behind him. Whether he'll be able to maintain an even keel under duress though is yet to be seen. Evans is known as a fragile personality who sometimes cracks under the scrutiny of the press, and the spotlight will be harsh on the Aussie in the months leading up to next year's Tour.

Cadel Evans, as the new world champion, realized that making a move to another team was a now or never proposition. His stock has never been higher as a cycling commodity, and in striking a deal with BMC he gives himself his best chance to finally win the Tour de France. He'll have his work cut out for him as he always does, but if he doesn't take a win in France over the next three seasons, Evans won't be able to claim it was because of lack of team support. Now is the time for Cadel Evans, a newly crowned world champion on a newly formed American powerhouse cycling team.