Cycling great Cadel Evans kicks off bid for more history at 2014 Santos Tour Down Under

CADEL Evans will make a decision whether to race on or retire in the wake of his mid-year Giro d'Italia campaign.

Cadel Evans just before the People's Choice Classic on Sunday. Picture: Mark...

AUSTRALIA'S greatest cyclist Cadel Evans will make a decision whether to race on or retire in the wake of his mid-year Giro d'Italia campaign but said he will not be rushed out of the sport or leave it with any regrets.

His bid to win the the Italian event will be launched on Tuesday in South Australian wine country with the Tour Down Under a dress rehearsal for BMC Racing's tilt at delivering their star rider the historic victory.

Evans admitted on Monday he was trying to avoid thinking about calling quits on a career which saw him win the world road crown in 2009 and the Tour de France in 2011.

And the Victorian is adamant he will not retire until he feels he is ready.

"I'll do the Giro and then use that as an indicator for the future,'' Evans said ahead of Tuesday's start of the Santos Tour Down Under.

"My main thing is, like I said before, to get back to top level. Whether that is 2011 level or one or two per cent less, whatever my best is, get back to that and make assessments on the future.

"I think since I was about 20 I didn't want to retire from the sport and have regrets, in terms of trying harder or working harder, or whatever.

"At the same time I would not want to retire early thinking six months down the track 'I think I could be at the front beating those guys'. I wouldn't want to do that.

"I have no experience of retiring from the sport. I'm not the one to ask. Libby Trickett has retired twice. I should probably have picked her brain.

"You don't want to cut yourself short but you don't want to squeeze out more than is actually there.''

Evans said he initially had a hard time reconciling himself to the Giro d'Italia, rather the Tour de France, being his main goal in 2014 but is now delighted with BMC Racing team committing their efforts to supporting him 100 per cent.

"Not riding the tour again was hard for me to accept initially,'' he said.

"This year we go in much more prepared and that in itself is much more appealing to me than say going into a Tour de France with the different riders or three different goals.''

Interestingly, Evans believes the Giro is actually a tour which has always suited him better than the Tour de France.

"I think from day one it has suited me better," he said.

"But of course the Tour de France was the goal, what everyone aspired to, which is why I put 10 years into winning that.''

Today Evans and his BMC team-mates will race the 135km opening stage of the Tour Down Under with 19 other teams.

Evans admits his second place finish to Orica GreenEDGE's Simon Gerrans just over a week ago, has increased his hunger to do well in the race he last contested back in 2010.

"Coming second is a good kick in the bum sometimes,'' he said.

"Unfortunately I have come second at quite a few world championships and Tour de Frances in my career. It motivates you.''