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Milan - Former Tour de France champion Cadel Evans has said he is unlikely to compete at the 2014 edition of the race as he concentrates on targetting a win in the Giro d'Italia.
"It's unlikely that I'll start the Tour de France," Evans said on Monday following the presentation of the three-week Italian epic, which begins on May 9 in Belfast and ends on June 1 in the Trieste region of Italy.
Evans, who was among the Tour de France's oldest champions when he won the fabled yellow jersey at the age of 34 in 2011, produced an impressive performance in this year's Giro d'Italia.
Despite having only several weeks of preparation following a late call-up by his BMC team, the 36-year-old was only pipped for a runner-up place by Rigoberto Uran in the final stages when Italian Vincenzo Nibali triumphed.
Evans went on to double up at the Tour de France barely a month later, but finished far off the podium as Britain's Chris Froome won his maiden yellow jersey.
Evans, who came to the cycling world's attention in 2002 when he almost won the Giro d'Italia on his debut, admits he has unfinished business at the race.
His absence from the Tour de France is a move he feels would boost his chances at finally claiming the race's pink jersey.
"It's not 100 percent confirmed, but at this point it looks like I'll probably do the Giro," Evans added.
"It's unlikely that I'll start in the Tour de France, and that leaves me with a lot of time and energy to concentrate on the Giro."
