Summary Cadel Evans will not compete at the 2014 edition of the Tour de France.
MILAN (AFP) - Former Tour de France champion Cadel Evans said he is unlikely to compete at the 2014 edition of the race as he concentrates on targetting a win in the Giro d Italia.
"It s unlikely that I ll start the Tour de France," Evans told AFP Monday following the presentation of the three-week Italian epic, which begins on May 9 in Belfast and ends on June 1 in the Trieste region of Italy.
Evans, who was among the Tour de France s oldest champions when he won the fabled yellow jersey at the age of 34 in 2011, produced an impressive performance in this year s Giro d Italia.
Despite having only several weeks of preparation following a late call-up by his BMC team, the 36-year-old was only pipped for a runner-up place by Rigoberto Uran in the final stages when Italian Vincenzo Nibali triumphed.
Evans went on to double up at the Tour de France barely a month later, but finished far off the podium as Britain s Chris Froome won his maiden yellow jersey.
Evans, who came to the cycling world s attention in 2002 when he almost won the Giro d Italia on his debut, admits he has unfinished business at the race.
His absence from the Tour de France is a move he feels would boost his chances at finally claiming the race s pink jersey.
"It s not 100 percent confirmed, but at this point it looks like I ll probably do the Giro," Evans added.
"It s unlikely that I ll start in the Tour de France, and that leaves me with a lot of time and energy to concentrate on the Giro."
