Evans heading Down Under

Reigning world champion Cadel Evans is set to parade his Rainbow Jersey in January's Tour Down Under following the verbal acceptance by his BMC Racing Team of a wild card invitation.

The recruitment of Evans, who won the World Road Championships in September in Mendrisio, is a major coup for the organisers who recently announced that seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong would return in 2010 after also competing in this year's Tour Down Under.

Evans was thrilled that his new BMC Racing Team has been invited to take part in the Tour to be held in South Australia from 17-24 January, 2010.

"It's a privilege to be able to present my new jersey and my new BMC Racing Team to the Australian public and the rest of the world at the Santos Tour Down Under in January," he said.

Negotiations are continuing between the BMC Racing Team and the South Australian Government to officially sign-off on the acceptance and details of the wild card.

Evans earlier this week met with Tour Down Under officials and indicated his desire to race at the UCI ProTour event should his new team be invited.

"Never before has an Australian competed on Australian soil wearing the Rainbow Jersey, " said South Australian premier, Mike Rann.

"This may be the only chance to ever see two legends, in Lance Armstrong and Cadel Evans compete against one another on Australian soil."

BMC Racing will be the third team to make its debut at the 2010 Santos Tour Down Under and it's the first to be offered a wildcard.

Armstrong's Team Radio Shack from the USA and Team Sky from the UK, have been given UCI ProTour licences and will also take to the road for the first time in Adelaide.

The number of teams to compete at the 2010 Santos Tour Down Under will be confirmed by early December once the UCI have issued all ProTour licences.