Evans will start the Tour Down Under, race organizers say.
BMC Racing Team and its new star, Cadel Evans, will be awarded a wild card invitation to ride in the Santos Tour Down Under in January, the race organizers said Wednesday.Evans, the world road race champion, has said recently that he might skip his home country's largest race because it was difficult to be in top form in January when July's Tour de France is his primary objective for the season.
Mike Rann, the premier of South Australia, called the development a triumph for the event.
“Never before has an Australian competed on Australian soil wearing the Rainbow Jersey, so it’s a great coup for South Australia that Cadel will do so at the 2010 Santos Tour Down Under,” Rann said in an event press release.
Lance Armstrong also has committed to racing the Tour Down Under, which was his first major stage race when he came out of retirement last year.
The race organizers said the agreement with BMC is verbal and details are still being negotiated. The race said Evans met with them earlier this week.
The 2010 Santos Tour Down Under will be held in South Australia January 17-24, 2010