Cautious Evans ends season early

Among the events the 35-year-old will miss are the September 19-23 UCI Road World Championships in the Netherlands and earlier WorldTour races in Quebec and Montreal.

BMC team doctor Max Testa said tests conducted on the rider last week showed no damage to his right knee but that the cyclist was calling time on 2012 as a precaution.

"Considering there are so few races left, and with his current level of fitness, the medical staff and management decided to make this the end of his season," Testa told the team's official website.

Evans, who failed to complete last month's USA Pro Challenge due to the problem knee had hoped to return to racing this season but was wary of compromising his 2013 season.

"At this point, we can't afford to do that. So I'll completely recover and do what I can to be back to my normal level next year."

Evans bows out for the season having won the Criterium International, finished seventh in the Tour de France and third in the Criterium du Dauphine.