Cadel Evans - Off to the Tour

Team Deutsche Telekom officially announced on Tuesday the 27th that they had signed a two year contract with Cadel Evans (Mapei-Quick Step), considered by many as one of the biggest promises for the great stage races to come. Here he shares his thoughts about his new team with Cyclingnews.

Maglia Rosa
Photo: © Sirotti

CN: Are you happy with how thing have developed since Mapei announced they would stop sponsoring the team at the end of the year?

CE: It has been a bit of stress for some of the riders and a lot of the staff, not knowing their future. But for me, after having a good start to the season there has been a bit of interest in where I might go next year. So it was more a matter of deciding which team offered the best environment for me to continue developing as a road rider in.

CN: Since several teams must have been intersted in you, what were you looking for in a team?

CE: Being at Mapei taught me how important experience is in a team, both on the staff and rider side. And of course each team has different goals, Telekom want to develop a young GC rider for the Tour, that suits me pretty well.

CN: And Telekom answered up to all of your demands, and maybe more?

CE: Yes, Telekom did answer to all that I was looking for and maybe more. From what I have learned, they are also very professional and meticulous in how they work, they have plenty of experience in the Tour, the riders are experienced in riding for GC and they speak a bit of English too.

CN: When did you start talking to Telekom?

Pre-Giro hydration
Photo: © Sirotti

CE: …Not so long ago.

CN: What kind of schedule are they offering you?

CE: I will ride a schedule based around being at my best at the Tour (it might sound boring but I want to race the Tour). I will probably race less at the start of the year than this season, which races we choose will depend also on how the Tour course is.

CN: What kind of hopes do they have on you?

CE: They hope for me to be good at the Tour alongside whoever my team mates will be, Ullrich is a little uncertain at this moment, also Paolo Salvodelli.

CN: Let me hear your opinions on the team and the leaders?

CE: I actually only know the Italians, Fagnini and Guerini, and Bobby, all of whom I look forward to being on the team with. I do not know Ullrich very well but I have heard good things about him. I hope that I will be riding alongside both Ullrich and Savoldelli next year. As for the others, I will have to wait and see, there seem to be quite a few changes amongst the older riders.

CN: Will you still live in Switzerland?

CE: Yes, I will continue to live in Switzerland, I am starting to feel at home there after five years.