Evans in the mix?

Tour de France hope springs eternal for Cadel Evans with the 2010 World number one once again insisting he has a good shot at taking out the big one - I agree.

Tour de France hope springs eternal for Cadel Evans with the 2010 World number one once again insisting he has a good shot at taking out the big one - I agree.

Call it a hunch, a feeling,, or maybe I'm just a cockeyed optimist, but somehow this season seems to be breaking just a little bit differently for the Australian with some of the serious contenders looking less than solid as the season has progressed.

Don't get me wrong, I also see riders like Andy Schleck, Robert Gesink and Ivan Basso as likely podium finishers and of course it would be hard to bet against Alberto Contador should he dodge the anti-doping bullets fired at him by WADA and the UCI.

But in an interview with L'Equipe it's clear Evans is motivated and confident despite his many detractors and he is unperturbed about the Spaniard's predicament.

"The race looks the same with or without Alberto Contador," said Evans. But I am mentally prepared to deal with any situation.

"I haven't given up on winning the Tour. I still believe in it, but perhaps the rest of the world doesn't. I just need a little bit of the luck that was missing in 2008 and last year."

Like most keen watchers of the sport I've been closely motoring the season long progressions of many of the key riders. A number have posted promising results but no one rider appears dominant outside of the doubtful Contador, who is impressive every time he takes the start line. There appears to be more balance in the peloton so I like the way things are shaping up for Evans.

And of course we've seen a different kind of Evans over the past two seasons, one who has shrugged off a perceived reticence to take a race by the throat - a reticence he denied.

"One day, someone says in a newspaper you're a loser, a rider who is always on the defensive, and this view gains weight in an irrational way," he again said to L'Equipe. People see what they want to see. The view that I am not aggressive changed with the yellow jersey. But I always knew the kind of rider I am. The rainbow jersey definitely proves it."

Indeed it did. There is a sharper edge to Evans today, that maybe in our haste to criticise, we didn't notice in 2007 and 2008.

While Evans has a Tour focused season planned it didn't stop him from dominating at the Tirenno-Adriatico, his one serious hit-out so far this season, where he took the win.

After a precautionary rest to ease an issue with his knee, he's currently in the top-ten at the Tour of Romandie. He's clearly fit and all that remains is the fine tuning required to deliver win a tour.

I've also been heartened by the performance of his BMC team to date. They look a lot better than they did last year. More organised and prepared to take charge at the front of a race.

Evans will arrive at the start line a highly experienced Grand Tour Contender, he's been there and done that. And with a solid BMC team behind him he's looking better every day.

Here's hoping 2011 is like 2008 when Evans was on song and at the top of his game - but this time with a happier ending.

Follow Phil on Twitter @Lycra_Lout