Cadel Evans (BMC) has revealed he will bring the curtain down on his illustrious career at the Great Ocean Road Race in February next year.
The inaugural 174km race takes place in Geelong, south east Australia on a similar parcours to the course of the 2010 World Championships road race.
The route is predominantly flat though, and Evans has ruled out winning his final race - which he also puts his name to. While the 2011 Tour winner said he could have made the course longer and harder, he was more interest in ensuring the event would have long-term success.
“It isn’t a race for me - I count myself out,” the 37-year-old told the press in Melbourne on Wednesday, "but I want to finish well.”
But perhaps the final big races for Evans will come in January 2015, as he takes on his last WorldTour event at the Tour Down Under, as well as riding in the Australian National Championship road race.
The former world champion remained realistic though about his chances at one more win, particularly in the national championships, before he calls it a day.
"There's one little hurdle at the national championships" he said, "there's 13-15 Orica-GreenEDGE riders."
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"They race that race to make me lose, I'm sure."
"But this time, it's going to be the last month racing in my career, so of course I'm going to be more meticulous and work harder than I ever did to be as good as I can."
Evans has never taken the overall win in the Tour Down Under, finishing second to Simon Gerrans (Orica-GreenEDGE) in last year's race, but says that it will be his main focus going into his last month as a professional.
"It's only five days and I want to go for everything possible at the Tour Down Under."
