Cadel Evans checking the Tour de France 2012 parcours
Cadel Evans has skipped the Giro d’ Italia and the cyclist is currently examining the parcours of the Tour de France 2012.
The Australian is accompanied by his teammate Steve Morabito and the duo inspected the final climb of the stage eight of the race.
The 154 kilometre stage is scheduled between Belfort and Porrentruy and Evans has noted that the stage might be short but it will also be exhaustive.
The 35-year-old is pleased with the strong support that he will receive at the race, "For the Tour de France, you also need rouleurs and strong guys," he said.
"Okay, in 2012 we don't have a team time trial but you do need guys who are suited to that kind of racing because not all of the Tour de France is mountainous”.
Evans rode brilliantly in the most recent version of the race and occupied the top spot after the final general classifications.
The Schleck brothers put up a good fight but could not match the likes of Cadel.
Andy Schleck fell 1 minute and 34 seconds short and achieved the second position with his brother Frank further 56 seconds behind at the third position.
Evans had a slow start to his 2012 campaign but finally found his winning ways at the Criterium International.
He wins the individual time trial stage 2 of the race and also occupied the first overall position at the race along with the point’s classifications victory at the race.
Cadel holds as many as seven Tour de France participations under his belt and finished second during the 2007 and 2008 editions of the race.
While sharing his thoughts about the eighth stage of the Tour de France he told AFP, “It will be a short stage but very intensive. There are beautiful landscapes, beautiful roads, without much flat".
Jurgen Van Den Broeck of Team Lotto Belisol also marked his presence at the Tour de France 2012 course.
He cited, “It is possible that the early break comes after [the Col de la Croix], as the racers who will contend the general classification gave everything for the previous day classification”.
Broeck achieved the fifth overall spot during the Tour de France 2010 and is determined to find podium during the 2012 edition of the French Grand Tour.
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