Having started the race with the intention of repeating his 2011 overall victory, Cadel Evans has had a disappointing showing in Tirreno-Adriatico. The Australian won't start today's time trial as he prefers to return home to prepare for the Giro d'Italia.

Cadel Evans of the BMC Racing Team withdrew from Tirreno-Adriatico Tuesday, foregoing the final stage, 9.2-kilometer individual time trial in order to return home and resume training for his goal race, the Giro d'Italia.

 But obviously, the results tell a different story. So I will have to go home and reassess the situation and start again toward the next goals."

Evans's best result of the race came on the opening stage last Wednesday when the BMC Racing Team placed 11th in the team time trial. His season started with runner-up finishes in January at both the Australian national road championships and the Santos Tour Down Under. Last month, he scored a pair of top 10 results at the Tour du Haut Var on the way to fifth place overall and was seventh at Strade Bianche on March 8.

Last year's third-place finisher at the Giro d'Italia said Tirreno-Adriatico was not entirely disappointing. He said the six stages he did complete provided "a very good workload" and the time spent racing with teammates built familiarity with some who will join him at the Giro. Evans is scheduled to next compete at Vuelta al Pais Vasco, April 7-12.

"Unfortunately things aren't going well," the past Tour de France and world road champion said. "That's the way it goes. We have ups and downs. That's life."