Cadel Evans (BMC) failed to unseat Simon Gerrans (Orica-GreenEDGE) in the final stage of the Tour Down Under but still had a successful race as he ended the race in 2nd overall. Widely tipped to have raced his last edition of his home race, the 2011 Tour de France champion hinted that he would love to end his career at the event one day.

Cadel Evans finished runner-up Sunday at the Santos Tour Down Under as the top of the overall standings remained unchanged on the final stage. Simon Gerrans (Orica-GreenEDGE) earned his third Tour Down Under title as Evans finished one second behind. Diego Ulissi (Lampre-Merida) was third, at five seconds.

Evans said the result is encouraging in a season that is building toward bettering his third-place finish of a year ago at the Giro d'Italia.

"We came here for the core group for the Giro," he said. "Of course, we'd prefer to win and that's what we are hard-wired to do. But to be second by one second shows we are at a good starting point to work toward May."

Evans soloed to win Thursday's Stage 3 and into the overall lead by 12 seconds over Gerrans. But Gerrans whittled away at the margin thanks to time bonuses and time gained on Evans Saturday on Old Willunga Hill to regain the Ochre jersey he originally donned after winning the opening stage.

"Like I said a few days ago, in a six-day race, two days were suited to me and four days were suited to Orica-GreenEDGE," Evans said. "So to be second by one second is not such a bad performance."

The runner-up result is Evans's best finish in eight Tour Down Under participations. His only other top five finish at this race came in 2002 when he finished fourth overall.

Evans writes the better result down to the fact that the course has become harder in recent years.

"We are all getting older but I don't think I am too old just yet to race and be competitive," he said. "It was a different Tour Down Under than any I have ridden before and that showed in the performance I could do."

It was expected that this year's race would be Evans' last Tour Down Under but he hinted that he would love to end his career in his home race.

"If Adelaide will have me back it that would be so cool for this to be my last racing appearance," he said. "Don't be so sure this will be my last Tour Down Under.

"That race is fantastic," he added. "The fans really make this race and this ambiance, I am so pleased, so proud of us as a cycling nation, but also a sporting nation, to see this event and what the ambience makes of us."

Evans lost his lead yesterday when he spent a lot of time on his own in the headwind, only to be passed by Gerrans near the end. As he already enjoyed a 7-second lead, people have questioned his aggressive tactics but the Australian had no regrets.

"I took my best judgment on the road, you have to be satisfied with how it went," he said. "To be second by one is not such a bad performance."

Sport Director Fabio Baldato said he was proud of what Evans and the team achieved.

"Yesterday, we tried to make the seven seconds become 15 seconds because today we were afraid to fight with Orica and Gerrans in the sprints and at the finish," he said.

"We reached our goals, and we saw Cadel is back and in really great shape. He showed he can fight for a big Giro or another big race."

Evans has now set his sights on his next objective which is also an Italian race.

"With this shape, we have a Tirreno that he has already won in 2011," Baldato said. "We will see now what will be the next race but for sure Tirreno will be the next goal. After that we will see step by step, with the results, with the confidence, with the team, so that he can be ready for the Giro."

The race marked the debut of neo-professional Rick Zabel who earned praise from the sports director.

"He is a nice who really did his job," Baldato said. "He understood to show his team that he was ready to chase on the front and to get bottles. He did a great job, he was also next to Cadel in the wind when the race was mostly flat. I am satisfied. It was a great experience for him."

Evans will next line up for the Tour du Haut Var in the middle of February.