BMC’s Cadel Evans met the media Monday on the second rest day of the Giro d'Italia and assessed his position as second overall in the race that has six stages to go, including three in the mountains and one individual time trial.

Evans said his late decision to race the Giro for the first time since 2010 meant less preparation. But the 2011 Tour de France winner said he is pleased with his performance so far. He is currently 1’26” off the lead of Vincenzo Nibali (Astana Pro Team) and 1’20” ahead of third-placed Rigoberto Uran (Sky Procycling). "To be here second overall on GC is not so bad," Evans said. "Me being somewhat the ambitious rider that I am, I say it's not impossible to win. So I'll be a bit greedy there and keep asking more of myself."

Evans was 62nd overall after the BMC Racing Team's rather disappointing 12th place in the Stage 2 team time trial. But a runner-up finish the next day shot him up to 12th overall. He climbed to 10th on Stage 4 and into sixth on Stage 7 before a seventh-place performance in the 54.8km individual time trial on Stage 8 moved him into second overall. He has remained there but conceded 33 seconds to Nibali on Stage 14.

“I see a very good Astana [team] and a really good Nibali who has been able to cover everything that's been thrown at him so far," Evans said. "This Giro, compared to the dozen or so other Grand Tours I have done, really has been a test of teams, of concentration, of bike handling abilities and of physical abilities. Being on the flats, being in the crosswind, being in the heat, being in the cold, the team time trial – everything has been such a test on everyone and everything involved in the race. It's been interesting to say the least. But here we are with a week to go and there are a few more opportunities. We'll see where we go from here."