Cadel Evans will compete in the Giro d'Italia in May, adding a second grand tour to his racing program for the 2013 season, the past Tour de France and world road champion announced Saturday.

Evans said the plan to compete in the Giro for the first time since 2010 – when he won a stage while wearing the rainbow jersey and led the race for one day – was proposed to him earlier this month. "I could stick with my normal program that I do every year or try this different approach – which may be too much, but certainly enough," he said. "I have always wanted to race again at the Giro, but after I raced it in 2010, I didn't get to the Tour fresh. I'm not saying that the Giro and the Tour together is too much. The illness and injury I had in 2010 made it impossible to judge."

Tour Still Top Objective
Evans, winner of the 2011 Tour de France, said that race remains his No. 1 goal. "The team will put everything into the Tour de France," he said. "My situation is a bit strange because there are not many riders who perform better with two grand tours than one in their legs. In my situation, with the racing I missed last year, I need and I feel comfortable with this program." His objective for the Giro d'Italia, which runs May 4-26, is simple: "To get back to my best," he said. "Since the virus I had last year, I have had to change my approach to my work. It's difficult when you struggle to get to your best even though you are doing everything correctly. I am not coming to the Giro just for training. I don't know where I will be with my form, but for sure, I will give it everything."

Good Preparation For July
BMC Racing Team Directeur Sportif John Lelangue said he has no concerns about Evans riding back-to-back grand tours and still being the team's clear leader for the Tour de France. "When he did both in 2010, he did good two performances and he has proven in the past he can do both the Tour and the Vuelta a España," Lelangue said. "So three weeks of racing in what is a nice Giro for him, will be the best way to prepare well and be ready for the month of July." Assistant Director Fabio Baldato, who will direct the BMC Racing Team at the Giro, said having Evans on the roster will be a major benefit, especially for the team time trial on Stage 2. "To have Cadel on board at the Giro will really be a big motivation and provide great morale for the whole team," Baldato said. "It's a great advantage to have him on the roster."