Evans and Silence-Lotto management clear the air

Australia's Cadel Evans and Silence-Lotto management sat down and talked over their problems, and are now looking forward to the Australian doing well in the upcoming Vuelta a España.

Relationships between the rider and the team management were unstable after his disappointing performance in the Tour de France. Evans had gone into the race as one of the favourites but finished in 30th place.

General Manager Geert Coeman and Sports Manager Marc Sergeant met with Evans in Italy earlier this week. "It was a constructive conversation," Sergeant told Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad.

He noted that Evans had seemed shy, nervous and perhaps too relaxed in the Tour. "Cadel thought he would be fired on the last day of the race, something he heard from an Australian journalist. Complete nonsense, of course, but it played with his head."

Evans, 32, said that his difficulty in the Tour was due to physical problems, but Sergeant puts it down to a mental collapse. "But I have the impression that things are in order again."

He now looks to make up for things in Spain. "He is motivated to do things right in the Vuelta. Two years ago he finished fourth. Moreover, Contador is not riding there and that makes a would of difference in his head."

Evans' put a comment on his Twitter account after the meeting. "Afternoon spent with Silence-Lotto management. Lots of talking... and talking..." he wrote.

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