Evans out of Olympic Time Trial
Wednesday, 30 July 2008 23:01
In another blow to the Australian Olympic Team the form that Cadel Evans showed on the roads of France will not be seen at the Beiing Olympics. Evans has withdrawn from the Olympic Games road time trial due to injury and will undergo treatment this week ahead of a decision on whether he will travel to Beijing to contest the road race. He will be replaced in the event by three time World Champion, Michael Rogers.
On Monday Evans dismissed rumours he had suffered an injury that might threaten his Olympic Games campaign but after the flight home to Switzerland his right knee swelled up and he decided to visit an orthopaedic specialist for precautionary scans.
"I slipped on a wet floor on Sunday night and my team (Silence Lotto) doctor immediately had a look at it and said not to worry," said Evans who had been at the official post Tour team dinner. "I immediately headed back to the hotel and to bed and on Monday morning I felt a bit sore but didn't feel I'd done any damage.
"But on the flight home my knee began to swell up so I had to consider going to see a specialist who recommended cancelling my ride in the criterium in Belgium in favour of getting some scans done," said Evans. "It's not a major injury but it's something I will have to manage carefully.
"I recognised I might not be at my absolute best in the race against the clock but I can still make a significant contribution to the team effort for the road race," he said. "I'll be training and getting treatment over the next few days to confirm my participation by Monday.
"But I will not take a place in Beijing if everything doesn't go according to plan," said Evans who would not elaborate on the details of the injury. "I don't want to go into the details, I just want to focus on overcoming it so I can race in China."
Evans, 31, crashed during stage 9 of the Tour de France but rallied to complete the event and finish in second place overall.
Evans won the time trial at last year's Goodluck Beijing road cycling test with Rogers second. Australia has only qualified one starting position for the men's time trial at the Olympic Games.
