Evans primed to deliver

From the performance he delivered at Flèche Wallonne, it's becoming increasingly obvious that Cadel Evans is primed for a Giro d'Italia to remember, writes Michael Tomalaris.

From the performance he delivered at Flèche Wallonne, it's becoming increasingly obvious that Cadel Evans is primed for a Giro d'Italia to remember.

In fact Italy's Grand Tour is one for the world champion to lose, given his current form.

You don't have to be Einstein to realise Cadel is enjoying life as a rejuvenated pro-bike rider, posting a number of strong performances so far this season.

He leads a new team, he wears the rainbow jersey and is winning big races, and the way he left cycling's number one Alberto Contador in his wake on the climb to the finish line, said it all.

Whether Cadel is hungry to complete a Flèche - Liege double this weekend is insignificant.

To conquer a Spring Classic on the roads of Belgium is a bonus to a season where his top priority was to dominate the Giro and then ensure the nightmare experience of 2009 isn't repeated at the Tour de France.

Cadel has been transformed since his world championship victory in Mendrisio last September - wearing the jersey lightly.

He's developed into an experienced, masterful tactician and that was clearly seen at Flèche Wallonne.

In fact he was hardly spotted by throng of chasing cameras until the last five kilometres and the final climb on the legendary Muur de Huy.

Rising to a gradient of 19% Cadel looked so comfortable compared to Contador who would have been a short-priced favourite to hang on and take line honours with 500 metres to go.

After all, how many times has Contador pulled away from all-comers in similar scenarios?

Cadel was brilliant in the way he literally saved his best until last.

Whether the timing of the season is not quite right for the Spaniard remains to be seen as there's no doubt cycling's Matador is revolving his entire year around another victory on the Champs Elysees.

And while Cadel has similar objectives, I feel his sights are firmly set on winning the Giro.

This can still be achieved without Swiss BMC teammate Thomas Frei, who may be spending the next two years serving suspension given his positive doping bust.

At this stage he won't have to face-off against Contador or Denis Menchov as both have decided to bypass Italy.

Cadel's main challenges for General Classification are expected to come from Carlos Sastre and Bradley Wiggins.

Cast your mind back to August last year. Remember the questions raised when Cadel announced his move to BMC?

The sceptics had their say and the knives were out. Many of us all were all quite puzzled by the decision.

Well, so far so good and it seems everything is falling into place.

The stresses and anxieties of the well-documented days at Team Lotto are well behind, and here's hoping we'll have someone to cheer home when the Grand Tours click into gear in a couple of weeks.