BMC’s Cadel Evans has announced that injury will prevent him from participating in Sunday’s 260km Amstel Gold Race, in addition from keeping him away from Wednesday’s (April 20) Flčche Wallonne at which he had hoped to defend his 2010 title. The Australian – a two-time runner-up in the Tour de France and 2009 World Champion – sustained the injury (described initially as “a small bruise on the knee bone” but now thought also to extend to bruising to the femur) when he crashed whilst cycling near his home in Switzerland on March 31.
Evans has taken a pragmatic approach describing the setback as “…just a little hiccup along the way.” Further complications notwithstanding, he is scheduled to return to race in Switzerland at the Tour de Romandie, which takes place April 26 – May 1.