Our greatest racer goes too early as Cadel Evans contemplates not saddling up next season

TIMING can be everything in cycling, as it can in all sports - and Cadel Evans is struggling to get his right.

TIMING can be everything in cycling, as it can in all sports - and Cadel Evans is struggling to get his right.

Australia's greatest road racer is keen to win the Tour Down Under just in case it turns out to be his last race in his own country.
About to turn 37 and having done just about all there is to do, he says he is unsure whether he will saddle up next year.

Yesterday he looked poised to claim stage two but came up agonisingly short, finishing third behind surprise winner Diego Ulissi of Italy and race leader Simon Gerrans.

The previous day he had also finished in the lead group but in ninth place, conceding 11 seconds worth of time bonuses to Gerrans, the winner, in the general classification.

Cadel Evans sits at the front of the peloton during the second stage from Prospect to Stirling in the Tour Down Under. Picture: Sarah Reed

Despite finishing closer this time, the distribution of the bonuses meant Evans lost another two seconds to the Orica-GreenEDGE star, and is in fourth place.

Ulissi is second, seven seconds adrift, and German sprinter Andre Greipel, a dual winner of the Tour, is third, 11 seconds back.

Evans, who demonstrated he is in good early season form with a strong third behind Gerrans and Richie Porte in the national championships just over a week earlier, is disappointed but philosophical about his near-misses in Adelaide.

After the 150km trip from Prospect to Stirling ended in a bunch finish that also featured Porte, Evans said: "Yesterday I went too late and got closed in, today I went too early and got swamped at the finish.

"Maybe I'll get it right in the next few days.

The 2011 Tour de France champion remains a huge drawcard, with race organisers putting yesterday's crowd at 110,000. Picture: Sarah Reed

"I didn't have the legs and timing today. It's promising but I just misjudged the final.

"It's still pretty open but every time you lose a few seconds, there is less chance you'll be up there in the GC."

Stage three

Evans said he was happy with his own form and that of his Swiss-American team BMC, saying: "They have been really, really good here.

"We've had a couple of new guys come in, they've come from Europe and I've (been in) Australia, its our first race and we're still getting synchronised."

Regardless of his performances, the 2011 Tour de France champion remains a huge drawcard every time he gets on the bike, with race organisers putting yesterday's crowd at 110,000.

Ulissi, who rides for the Italian team Lampre-Merida, claimed his seventh professional win with a withering final burst just as Gerrans and Evans positioned themselves to fight it out.

While only cycling enthusiasts knew much about Ulissi - a 24-year-old who the under-23 road race world championship twice, and a stage winner in the Tour of Italy - Gerrans wasn't surprised to see him take a stage.

Cadel Evans says he is really happy with his form. Picture: Getty Images

"I probably wasn't expecting to see him shoot past us as quickly as he did, but he's a world-class rider and he's obviously in great shape.

"He's a very good climber as well as a rider and he was one of the people we spoke about before the race. He is going to be a real threat.

"He showed he is a bigger threat than Cadel, but that said this is the first time we have seen (Evans) right up front."

Ulissi said he thought Gerrans was unbeatable and never expected to beat two riders of the calibre of him and Evans.

He has never been to Australia before and does not speak English, but he is enjoying himself. "I am amazed by the incredible affection of the fans - this race is wonderful," he said through an interpreter.

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Diego Ulissi of Italy celebrates winning stage two. Picture: AFP