Following a disappointing Tour de France, 2011 champion Cadel Evans now admits that while it is not impossible for him to take another win in the world's biggest bike race, it is unlikely to happen. He reveals that he won't do the Giro-Tour for the second year in a row and hopes to return to his 2011 level again.

Indications were that 2011 Tour de France winner Cadel Evans was about to get back to his best when he finished a surprising 3rd in the Giro d'Italia despite having had very little preparation. However, his Tour de France campaign ended up as a huge disappointment and he finished way down the ranking in 39th.

A month ago Evans hinted that he may forgo the Tour de France next year to fully concentrate on the Giro. In an interview with L'Equipe, he makes further statements that indicate that the Italian grand tour may be his next big target.

Asked whether he thought it would be realistic to take a second Tour de France title at the age of 37 he admitted that it was unlikely to happen.

 “I won’t say that it’s impossible [to win the Tour again] but it’s very, very difficult and, for me, unlikely,” he said. “Does that surprise you?”

Earlier this week he stated that he wouldn't ride the Tour if he didn't believe he could win it. He rules out the possibility of doing another Giro-Tour double which left him fatigued towards the end of this year's edition of the French grand tour.

 “I won’t do the Giro-Tour double two years running. It cost me too much,” he said. “Today, the difference in stage races is made during the preparatory training camps. You have to train hard, in a specific way and recover well. You have to target you event carefully and prepare specifically, which means spending a lot of time away from home. Doing six weeks at altitude is an advantage over those who have only done two or three weeks.”

Evans recently got a great confidence boost when he won a stage of the Tour of Alberta and he has been selected as one of the leaders of the Australian team at the worlds. He will end his season at Il Lombardia where he has finished in the top 10 three times.

Next year he hopes to find back to his 2011 level.

“Above all, I want to finish the season well,” he said. “Next year, my aim will be to get back to my old level, the one I was at up until 2012.”