Evans to race Giro d'Italia

Australian Cadel Evans will race the 2009 Giro d'Italia, according to tuttobiciweb.com. The Silence-Lotto rider, second at this year's Tour de France, adds his name to a list of overall favourites that includes Lance Armstrong, Ivan Basso and Carlos Sastre.

"I think I am sufficiently mature to take on two big races like the Giro and Tour in the same year. The Corsa Rosa is what launched me [in 2002]; I wore the leader's jersey for one day and it always remained in my heart," said Evans.

Evans raced the Tour de France and Vuelta a España this year, the first time he faced two three-week races in one year. At the 2002 Giro d'Italia, riding for Team Mapei, he wore the maglia rosa after finishing seventh on stage 16 to Corvara in Badia. He lost the pink jersey on the next day to Folgaria and went on to finish the race 14th overall.

Team Silence-Lotto is holding a training camp in Spain this week, but Evans is remaining in his home country for the off-season.