Photo: © Tom Balks/CN
Welcome to Cyclingnews.com's newest diarist, Australian Cadel Evans. The young MTB star is trying his hand on the road full time this year, and he has already posted some impressive results. He is currently racing in Paris-Nice, where he filed this entry after stage 5.
Most readers will already know that he finished second in the sixth stage at the top of the Col d'Eze behind last year's winner Dario Frigo. Evans should post a top 10 GC result when the race finishes in Nice. Take it away Cadel...
First things first - some answers
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Hello, welcome to my first of what I expect will be a few diary entries to share my road experiences in the professional ranks of Europe with the Mapei-Quick Step team.
Firstly, why the road everyone asks? Why the change? Will I be racing on the dirt this year? Why not?
The change and the opportunity are my main reasons. I have been racing on the World Cup mountain bike circuit for since 1995, having passed seven full seasons, racing a full range of races from the intense 30 minute dirt criteriums, to the day after day slog of the Tour VTT (MTB's now defunct equivalent version of the Tour de France) tasting the dirt of the Swiss Alps, the Colorado Rockies, the Canadian Rockies, Hawaii, East Coast USA and Canada, every corner of Europe and many places in between. I have learned, seen and experienced a lot from the sport that has given me so much.
I think having grown up watching the Tour since the start of the Indurain domination planted a seed of aspiration in my head about one day riding the Tour. So at the age of 24, when a team like Mapei approached me expressing interest to develop me as a Grand Tour rider, I considered this a great opportunity. Not only to experience the road and test my capabilities, but to work with a group of individuals as well resourced, experienced and motivated as those at the Mapei Centre, to help me develop to my full potential as an athlete came at a good time in my career. I was very appreciative to have a first career in professional sport, so to have a second opportunity is quite something.
This year, Mapei have planned a busy and challenging program for my first full time year on the road. I started with the Tour Down Under, then a couple of races in Trofeo Majorca, in Italy and Switzerland. Now I am at Paris-Nice, only my second pro race in France, and my second week long tour.
So far, other than being behind what turned out to be a crucial split in the crosswinds on stage 4 - damn it! - it has been a good week, despite being 12th @ 2:49 on GC. Jalabert is looking good at the moment (before stage 6), second on GC to Vinokourov. I would like to see him do well here in France.
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Tomorrow is another day, with another hilltop finish; I am one of few who look at these stages without dismay. And France? I especially like the south, Provence, Nice, Cannes, Lavender fields, Nougat, pretty good wine in this area too. The motels, as in most of Europe are "cozy" for those used to the spacious rooms in the US and Australia, I write this crammed next to my Hungarian room mate Laszlo Bodrogi who is watching "Matrix" dubbed in French.
After this, I return back to my away from home in Switzerland for a few days before my final lead up races to be ready for Tour of Romandie, Leige-Bastongne-Leige and the Giro. I am happy to be able to start some of the more prestigious races in my first year. Many people have asked me if I am riding the Tour this year - please - I am not Superman! It is my first year full time on the road.
With all of these races, I will not have any time to race my MTB, let alone train properly for the results I would like to get. So for the time being, MTB will only be the occasional dose of cross training for me.
As for the road, I will keep you informed...
Tour Down Under
2002 - riding borrowed bike at the TDU
Tour Down Under 2002
- a TDU win at last
The road to Mapei - 2001 interview
Cadel's first break - 2000 interview
CadelEvans.com - Cadel's own website
