Cadel Evans set for Tour Down Under in field that includes Lance Armstrong

ADELAIDE, Australia - World road race champion Cadel Evans will join seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong in January's Tour Down Under in Adelaide.

Tour Down Under race director Mike Turtur told The Associated Press on Thursday that Evans' new American-based BMC team is the first to be offered a wild card entry for the Jan. 17-24 event in South Australia state.

Evans, an Australian, left the Belgium-based Silence-Lotto team last week and signed with BMC for 2010.

"I've just received an email from Jim Ochowicz in San Francisco, a part-owner of the team, and he is delighted with the invitation and very proud of the fact that Cadel will be riding for his team for the first time in the rainbow jersey in Australia," Turtur said.

Armstrong made his return to competitive cycling in this year's Tour Down Under after a 3 1/2-year retirement. Evans finished second in the Tour de France in 2007 and 2008.

Evans has raced six times in the Tour Down Under, including the inaugural event in 1999, Turtur said.

South Australia state Premier Mike Rann said Evans would be a welcome addition to the field.

"It will be a great spectacle to see Cadel Evans as world champion wearing the rainbow jersey up against the greatest cyclist of all time, Lance Armstrong," Rann said.