Competitions

BMC Racing Team's Evans Leads Tirreno-Adriatico

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Parent Category: Competitions

Category: Race 2011

Published on Monday, 14 March 2011 12:05

Written by Luca Salvatelli

Cadel Evans of the BMC Racing Team rode into the overall lead Sunday at Tirreno-Adriatico by keeping his nearest competitors close on the race's second straight 240-kilometer stage.

Caught In Traffic

With the finish line in sight, the former world champion was part of a small group that swept up the remounts of a breakaway that once held an 11-minute lead. Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto) won the sprint that Evans was unable to contest. "I really don't think on a finish like that I'm going to be able to beat Gilbert," Evans said. "But I got caught back in traffic and couldn't get anywhere in the finish, which is a bit disappointing. But for the GC, it was reasonably successful."

Slim Lead

Four riders are within five seconds of Evans on the overall classification with only a 178 km road race Monday and 9.3 km time trial Tuesday remaining. Evans said he'll continue to depend on teamwork, like he did on the Sasso Tetto, the major climb of the day. "Lampre rode a good tempo and then actually George (Hincapie) nearly rode the entire second half of the climb," Evans said. "He's riding really well. There were a few people close on GC that we were always preferring to eliminate, so that was a good move by George."