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Cadel Evans stayed out of trouble and left the stress to others in stage one of his last Tour Down Under.
Australia’s greatest cyclist finished 20th in the opening stage from Tanunda to Campbelltown as compatriot Jack Bobridge won and took the overall lead.
Bobridge and his three breakaway companions rode impressively to keep the peloton at bay until the finish.
That thwarted sprinters such as German Marcel Kittel, who won the People’s Choice Classic on Sunday night.
“It was nervous in the peloton and a strange finish there, but we rode and kept things safely in control for the GC (general classification),” Evans said.
“It seems the sprinters’ teams were a bit hesitant at the finish and that cost them a chance for victory.
“I’m not surprised the break went, but when you let strong guys go like that, you have to be careful.
“We (his BMC team) expected a bit more from the sprinters’ teams in the end, but it’s their loss, not ours.”
Asked about his own form, Evans replied: “just okay – I think after a few days’ racing, I will feel a bit better.”
This is the BMC team leader’s last WorldTour race before he retires on February 1 after the inaugural Cadel Evans Great Ocean Rd race.
He and Sky star Richie Porte are the overall favourites for the Adelaide Tour.
Porte finished 26th on the same time as Evans and they are 13 seconds behind Bobridge on the overall standings.
This is Evans’ 10th Tour and he is yet to win the overall title.
Evans’ bike at the Tour Down Under has a customised paint job to mark the end of his legendary cycling career.
The special BMC team bike was unveiled at the start of stage one.
The bike features aboriginal tribal designs – Evans grew up near an indigenous community in the Northern Territory.
Evans is a big fan of the comics character Tintin, whose picture is also on the bike.
“Tintin is the only cyclist who gets a framed picture onmy bedroom wall,” Evans said.
An Australian flag and the phrase “forever grateful” are other features, plus a gold stripe to commemorate his landmark 2009 world road championship.
“It would be a pleasure to have it seen outin front – we shall see,” he said.
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