BEIJING // The Australian rider Cadel Evans, who finished this year's Tour de France as runner-up, has been cleared to compete at the Olympics after overcoming a knee injury. Team officials said Evans would contest the road race and may still compete in the time-trial after previously announcing that he was withdrawing from the race. "Cadel will be flying in tomorrow and the news is that he'll definitely be riding in the road race," the Australian Olympic Committee vice-president Peter Montgomery said.
"And depending on how he goes after that he may ride in the time trial, but that won't be decided until after the road race." Evans withdrew from the time-trial last week after he injured his knee when he slipped on a wet floor at a team dinner in Paris following the Tour de France. Australia's three-times world champion Michael Rogers replaced him in the event, but when Evans showed signs of recovering faster than expected, the International Cycling Union handed Australia a wild-card entry to let him compete.
The Australian cycling coach Shayne Bannan said Evans, 31, had successfully completed a five-hour training ride with teammates in Switzerland. Evans is considered a medal contender in the time-trial after his impressive showing in the Tour de France. The men's cycling road race is scheduled for Aug 9 and the time trial for Aug 13. *Reuters
