Cadel Evans counting on his experience at the Tour de France 2012
Cadel Evans of Team BMC is riding the Tour de France as a reigning champion and the cyclist is amongst the favourites to grab his second overall victory at the race.
The cyclist currently holds the second overall position at the race with a total deficit of 1 minute and 53 seconds over the race leader, Bradley Wiggins of Team Sky Procycling.
Evans, although holds the second position, but the massive lead of almost two minutes is what really bothers him for the coming stages.
However, the Australian is positive to take his performance to the next level in the second phase of the French race, similar to what he did in 2011.
"The second half [of the Tour] is where I normally come into my best. That’s more my strength and consistency so now we’ll keep racing," Cadel said.
"Having won it I know I can win it and at least having won the Tour I’m no longer asked whether I can win the Tour. I think I can. For the rest, we’re driven and hungry".
Cadel believes that his vast general classifications experience gives him a clear edge over Bradley Wiggins.
"Look at his 2009 Tour or the 2011 Vuelta; he doesn’t have much of a three week history to gain on if you compare him to someone like Nibali, or Menchov or Kloden" who are far more experienced in the three-week race.
The 35-year-old is marking his eighth Tour de France appearance and has already secured the podium on three different occasions.
He occupied the second overall position during the 2007 and the 2008 editions of the race and occupied the top overall position during the most recent edition of the race.
Cadel and Evans are not the only two overall classification contenders, Vincenzo Nibali, Nicholas Roche and Christopher Froome are also in contention of receiving the humours.
Top ten cyclists after the stage 9 classifications are as under,
1
Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Sky Procycling
39:09:20
2
Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team
0:01:53
3
Christopher Froome (GBr) Sky Procycling
0:02:07
4
Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale
0:02:23
5
Denis Menchov (Rus) Katusha Team
0:03:02
6
Haimar Zubeldia Agirre (Spa) RadioShack-Nissan
0:03:19
7
Maxime Monfort (Bel) RadioShack-Nissan
0:04:23
8
Tejay van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing Team
0:05:14
9
Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team
0:05:20
10
Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La Mondiale
0:05:29
Tags: