Cadel Evans's future a wide open road as BMC Racing Team contract approaches finishing line

CADEL Evans's boss at BMC Racing Team says the Australian has a blank canvas to shape his future.

CADEL Evans's boss at BMC Racing Team says the Australian has a blank canvas to shape his future, which could include anything from a contract extension to retirement or an off-the-bike role with the team.

As Evans begins the final season of a three-year deal with BMC at the Santos Tour Down Under in Adelaide this week, whether it is also a farewell to his home-grown fans is unknown.

Evans says he will not make a decision until after the Giro d'Italia in May, and while BMC head Jim Ochowicz has had only informal talks with the 2011 Tour de France winner, he will not be rushed into making a call on his future either.

"There are two parts to that decision,'' Ochowicz said.

"It's really based on the athlete's health primarily, and second to that is the family lifestyle, the priority with the family.

"You can only spend so many years away from home as a professional athlete as they do every year.

Cadel Evans, in BMC Racing Team gear, signs on before Stage Two of the Tour Down Under.

"Those are two important factors and personal issues that Cadel has to really think about, when that decision needs to be made.

"I don't think he's in that space with his head yet. He's thinking about what he wants to get done this year.

"Some time in May, June, we'll sit down and have some discussions about 2015 but I don't think anything serious is going to be discussed until then.''

The BMC Racing Team president and general manager would not speculate on whether he thought Evans had enough left in the tank to keep racing next year, and if he did, whether it could mean a multi-year deal.

"We're just speculating, one year, two years, there's limitations on what both parties want to do so I can't even guess what's going on until we sit down and talk about it,'' he said.

Evans rides near the front of the peleton during the opening stage of the Tour Down Under.

"I don't know. This sport can turn pretty quick on you, pretty fast in an ugly way in terms of health because it's a tough sport.

"I don't like to predict the future in that respect.''

Evans joined BMC when it was a Pro Continental squad in 2010 and been with it ever since on its journey to winning the 2011 Tour de France and becoming one of the biggest teams in the world.

Ochowicz said Evans starting his season in Adelaide enabled him to race in front of a home crowd as he prepared for the Giro d'Italia.

"Both were priorities and both were in sync together," Ochowicz said.

"Him being an Australian going there in the off-season to visit family, it made sense to stay there and do this race which he hasn't done for a couple of years, in anticipation of earlier season form.''