After supporting the Australian in his 2011 Tour win, Amael Moinard plans to team up with Cadel Evans again in 2014. The French climber will have a schedule that is almost identical to his leader's and will be an important domestique in the Giro d'Italia.
In 2011, Amael Moinard left his role as an attacking climber on the Cofidis team to become a domestique with BMC. Less than a year after joining the American team, the Frenchman enjoyed one of the best moments of his sporting life when he celebrated Cadel Evans' Tour de France win after supporting the Australian captain in the French race.
In 2014, Moinard hopes to replicate that kind of success as he will again be one of Evans' key domestiques. However, that doesn't include a return to the world's biggest race as Evans has stepped down from the role of Tour de France captain and will instead focus on the Giro d'Italia.
Moinard and Evans have raced a lot together in the last three seasons, with Moinard riding in support of his Australian captain in the 2011, 2012 and 2013 Tours de France. Nonetheless, the duo will follow an almost identical schedule as they prepare for the Italian grand tour.
"I will have the same start to the season as my leader and the Giro is on my schedule," Moinard told ffc.fr. "I will be focused on this part of the season until the Giro d'Italia. My later program is still unknown and will be decided later."
Like Evans, Moinard will start his season at the Tour Down Under but will also race a lot in his home country in the build-up to the Giro. The Drome Ardeche, Tour du Haut-Var, Paris-Nice - in which he is a former stage winner - the Tour of the Basque Country and Giro del Trentino are all on his program.
While Moinard may get his chance to chase occasional success in those races, the main goal is, however, the Giro.
"Cadel Evans' objective is to win the Giro d'Italia in 2014," he said. "He is confident and focused on the race. In 2013 he was third in the event despite regarding it as preparation for the Tour de France. Now he is 100% focused on the Giro and wants to prepare himself to win it. At least, the final victory is his goal.
"I will go with him," he added. "I like the challenge. I was one of his teammates when he won the 2011 Tour de France and it would be great to achieve the same kind of result in another grand tour. For me, it is an exciting challenge and I want to help him reach his goal. I already know the Giro as it will be my third participation in the race."
Moinard last did the Giro in 2007 when he finished 46th overall while riding for Cofidis.
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