Cadel Evans believes that Contador’s absence will favour his opponents at the Tour de France 2012
Winner of the Tour de France 2011, Cadel Evans has briefed that Alberto Contador's absence from the 2012 edition of the race will make things more difficult for him.
He told Gazzetta dello Sport, "Without Contador it will be harder to win the Tour de France. Now I cannot use the Spaniard as a reference point and his team will not take responsibility for the race".
Contador was accused of using clenbuterol during the Tour de France 2010 and the case was forwarded to the Court for Arbitration for Sport in March 2010.
He denied the allegations a number of times and briefed that the substance entered his system through the meat that he ate during the race.
The final verdict on the case was finally made in February 2012 and the judges were convinced that the Spaniard used unfair means to enhance his performance for the event.
Alberto is now banned from professional cycling till August 2012, which means that he will miss some of the main cycling events of the year.
These are: the Tour de France, Giro d’ Italia and the 2012 Olympic Games.
The jury also disqualified Contador from all the victories since the Tour de France 2010, which include the overall victory at the Giro d’ Italia 2011 and the 2010 edition of the French Grand Tour.
He has also been stripped off from the fifth overall position during the most recent edition of the Tour de France.
Cadel Evans claimed his first World tour victory at the race, as he sailed across the finish-line ahead of the Schleck brothers, Thomas Voeckler and Alberto Contador.
The 2012 edition of the French Grand Tour is the top priority for the Australian and he believes that Alberto’s exit will make it lot easier for his opponents.
He said, "Other opponents will be more motivated if they feel they have more chances".
Evans will be supported by some of the best cyclists of the BMC Racing Team to escort him through the French race.
Andy Schleck finished 1 minute and 34 seconds behind Cadel and he is also a top contender for the yellow jersey at the Tour de France 2012.
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