Cycling: Evans to shrug off Tour disappointment

LONDON: Former Tour de France winner Cadel Evans declared himself ready to get back on his bike for Australia at the London Olympics despite his disappointing defence of the yellow jersey. Evans finished seventh in Paris on Sunday as Bradley Wiggins gave the Olympic hosts a pre-Games boost by becoming the first British rider to win the endurance classic. The 35-year-old banished any doubts upon his participation at the mega event. "Absolutely, I wouldn't bother getting on the plane if I wasn't," said Evans. "The Tour has been tiring for us and my Tour wasn't up to my expectations, or anyone's expectations, but for us eight days is a lot of recovery." Evans is a four-time Olympian and is still searching for his first medal.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 25^th, 2012.