Enlarge imagePARIS (Reuters) - The Silence Lotto team would discuss with Cadel Evans his participation in the Giro d'Italia after the Australian denied he was taking part in next year's race, sports director Roberto Damiani said on Friday.
Evans was quoted by Cyclingnews (www.cyclingnews.com) as saying he never said he was going to the 2009 Giro and accused organisers RCS of using his name to promote the race.
"I didn't announce I would be riding the Giro, the organisers did. I am not riding the Giro next year, my focus will be on winning the Tour de France in July," Evans said, referring to a statement by RCS on Wednesday.
"They announced I would be riding because they want publicity for their race," he said. "I have never said I would ride the Giro."
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Damiani told Reuters the Giro had been included in Evans's programme for the 2009 season following team discussions earlier this year.
"We need to have a discussion with Cadel because when we talked about this season's programme for him, the Giro was in it.
"I think the Giro would be a good preparation for the Tour for him."
Evans, 31, was runner-up in the last two editions of the Tour de France and has not taken part in the Giro since 2002, when he finished 14th overall.
"It is really sad to read certain statements attributed to Cadel Evans. It was agreed we could release the news (that he would race) on December 10," RCS and Giro director Angelo Zomegnan said in a statement.
"In 100 years, the Giro has never had to take advantage of the name Evans to publicise itself. If Evans wants to come, he will nevertheless be welcomed."
(Additional reporting by Mark Meadows in Milan, reporting by Julien Pretot, editing by N.Ananthanarayanan/Rex Gowar)
