Cadel Evans (BMC Racing) will make his 2014 season debut at the Santos Tour Down Under (January 19-26).

Evans hopes to have a good Giro d’Italia in May, and the UCI WorldTour opener may be more than a way to stretch his legs in front of home crowds.

“Cadel has his sights set on victory at the Giro d’Italia in 2014 and will be keen to start the season well and build towards this goal,” race director Mike Turtur said in a press release. “I’m sure we will see strong performances from all of the BMC Racing Team riders competing, plus plenty of passion from fans excited to have Cadel Evans back racing on home soil.”

Evans has not raced in the Tour Down Under since 2010.

Evans finished third in the 2013 Giro and struggled in the Tour de France, where he finished 39th overall. In 2014, he is recalibrating his objectives. He will ride the Giro, and hopes for a good result, but he will skip the Tour de France.

Brent Bookwalter and Rick Zabel, the son of German sprinter Erik Zabel, will also ride the Tour Down Under.