ADELAIDE, Australia, Jan 24, 2010 (AFP) – Australia’s world champion Cadel Evans on Sunday targeted “unfinished business” in the Giro d’Italia and Tour de France after a surprise sixth place in the Tour Down Under.

Evans, a two-time runner-up in France, had not expected to figure strongly in Adelaide but he shot up the standings with a third-place finish in searing heat on day three and a daring break on stage five.

“I didn’t come here with any expectations because putting pressure on yourself to perform when you haven’t done the preparation isn’t healthy,” he said. “Hopefully it’s a sign of things to come.”

Evans finished behind German winner Andre Greipel but ahead of Tour of Spain title-holder Alejandro Valverde, who is appealing a doping conviction, and Tour de France champions Lance Armstrong and Oscar Pereiro.

He said he was gearing his season around May’s Giro, where he briefly wore the pink leader’s jersey during his last appearance in 2002, and another tilt at the Tour de France in July.

“There’s unfinished business at the Giro and Tour (de France) for me, and that’s been years of culminating and whetting my appetite,” he said.

Evans appeared here with new team BMC and as the first Australian to wear the road race world champion’s distinctive “rainbow” jersey.

“I didn’t know what effect the rainbow jersey had on people within cycling, because I’d never had one,” he said.

“It really does have a pretty amazing effect. It certainly stands out in the peloton. I just want to honor the rainbow jersey for what it is.”

However, he played down his chances of defending the title in October, when the world championships head to Melbourne, saying the course did not fit well with his riding style.

“It’s a big ask. It’s not a course that suits me well enough to gear my whole year around,” Evans said.