Injured Evans in new Games blow

Jessica Benton
An injury to Barwon Heads cyclist Cadel Evans has dealt a second blow to the Bellarine Peninsula’s hopes for the Beijing Olympics.
Thirty-one-year-old Evans announced the injury had forced him to withdraw from the Olympics road time trial a week after finishing second in the Tour De France.
The knee injury from a fall on Sunday night has also put Evans in doubt for the road race.
He had earlier dismissed rumours the injury threatened his Olympic dream.
“I slipped on a wet floor on Sunday night and my team doctor immediately had a look at it and said not to worry,” Evans said.
“But on the flight home my knee began to swell up, so I had to consider going to see a specialist who recommended canceling my ride in the criterium in Belgium in favour of getting some scans done.
“I will not take a place in Beijing if everything doesn’t go according to plan.”
The Olympic hopes of Drysdale pentathlete Angela Darby also remain in jeopardy after a second appeal against her selection for Beijing.
Ms Darby is set to miss out on marching in the opening ceremony of the games, with a Court of Arbitration for Sport hearing the latest appeal the same day.
Greek officials have claimed the 21-year-old’s spot should go to Greek competitor Donna Vakalis, alleging Darby had failed to satisfy the qualification criteria.
The Greek appeal follows an unsuccessful British argument against Darby’s selection.
Darby was the only junior female to qualify for the Australian modern pentathlon team to compete in Beijing.
Darby said she remained focussed on competing in Beijing despite the legal hurdle.
“I’m just letting my lawyers deal with it. I have a great team of lawyers and a terrific support team,” she said.
“It’s just a waiting game until the appeal. It’s the same sort of case as the last one but you can’t rest on your laurels.
“As far as I know, I’m still going to Beijing.”