In 2011 Michele Scarponi went on from a Giro del Trentino victory to win the Giro d'Italia and last year Vincenzo Nibali repeated that achievement. Today Cadel Evans became the 2014 winner of the traditional warm-up event in the Italian mountains and he is now hopeful that he will be able to continue the tradition.

Cadel Evans won the Giro del Trentino Friday, marking the BMC Racing Team rider's first victory at a multi-day race since 2012. Evans was fifth to the summit finish at Monte Bondone at the end of the 175-kilometer stage won solo by Mikel Landa (Astana Pro Team), 10 seconds ahead of Louis Meintjes (MTN-Qhubeka) and 35 in front of Franco Pelizzotti (Androni Giocattoli).

Arriving in a group of three 41 seconds behind Landa, Evans's margin of victory in the final standings was 50 seconds over 2012 Giro del Trentino winner Domenico Pozzovivo (AG2R La Mondiale) and 61 seconds better than Przemyslaw Niemiec (Lampre-Merida) in third.

"In terms of racing, it was an enjoyable week," Evans said. "To have a good result is always promising toward the Giro d'Italia and what we are all about. It was nice to see the team blend together and ride strongly this week.

"I know we have been a little bit fragmented in some of the races. But everyone came together and really put in everything for the team here, which was nice to see. For that part, I really feel it was a team victory."

Asked whether he would now repeat Vincenzo Nibali's Trentino-Giro double, Evans remained hopeful.

"Maybe, I do not want to break the tradition," he said. "The Giro is much longer and harder thanTrentino, which was a great race this year. I am happy with this victory, the team's performance and my condition. 

"For the Giro, I still have two weeks of margin to grow, now I will go on a training camp with my teamate Steve Morabito."

With his good condition, it may be tempting for Evans to follow a lot Trentino stars to Belgium to line up at Liege-Bastogne-Liege but the Australian doesn't plan to change his schedule.

"No, no. Have you seen how Gilbert is going and how competitive the BMC team is for the Classics? I focus on my goals.

"I can confirm that my contract will expire at the end of the season but I hope that I don't expire. As long as I am able to ride at a high level, it makes sense to continue."

Evans's victory marked his first in a multi-day race since winning the two-day, three-stage Critérium International in March of 2012.

Sport Director Fabio Baldato, who took to the podium to hoist the "fair play" trophy awarded to the BMC Racing Team, said the squad performed beyond his expectations.

"I am really happy because at this point in the season, two weeks before the Giro, we were hoping to be at this point," Baldato said. "Cadel is really strong and the team is ready too. We are seeing great team spirit and the teamwork was perfect. Thanks to that, we had a great result."

Evans's path to victory started when the BMC Racing Team won Tuesday's opening-stage team time trial. Evans took the fuchsia jersey from teammate Daniel Oss the next day with a fourth-place finish.

His stage win on Thursday increased his lead to 45 seconds and was his first victory in Europe since winning Stage 1 of the 2012 Critérium du Dauphiné.

In addition to Oss, teammates helping Evans to the victory were Brent Bookwalter, Yannick Eijssen, Martin Kohler, Sebastian Lander, Steve Morabito and Rick Zabel.

"This was good for the motivation," Baldato said. "I saw the guys fighting to come back and going to the front again to control the break. Today was another hard day to control. But everything was perfect."