Cadel Evans expects a running duel with the powerful Australian Orica-GreenEDGE team to mark the end of his cycling career.

The 37-year-old’s three-race swansong will be the centrepiece of a packed local domestic season through January and early February.

Evans continues to play down his chances at those three races – the January 11 Australian road titles in Ballarat, then Adelaide’s January 17-25 Tour Down Under and finally the inaugural February 1 Great Ocean Rd race in and around Geelong.

The Great Ocean Rd event will be named in Evans’ honour.

For all Evans’ abilities, the 2011 Tour de France winner and 2009 world road champion is philosophical about achieving once last triumph.

“It’s easier said than done,” Evans said of going out with a win.

“One thing – when the race is in your name, all the competitors … are watching you more than any other.

“They all know I will want to win.

“Of course, I prepare for January 2015 as I prepare for every season.

“But this time, it’s going to be the last month racing in my career, so of course I’m going to be more meticulous and work harder than I ever did to be as good as I can.”

The Great Ocean Rd course is not hilly enough for a rider of Evans’ abilities.

He expects compatriot and Orica-GreenEDGE sprinter Michael Matthews to be the man to beat.

Likewise, he pointed to GreenEDGE when discussing his chances at the nationals and the Tour Down Under.

He finished runner-up to GreenEDGE star Simon Gerrans at this year’s pulsating nationals race.

Evans was then outstanding at the Adelaide Tour, winning a stage, but finished second overall behind Gerrans by just one second.

“There’s one little hurdle at the national championships – there’s 13-15 Orica-GreenEDGE riders,” he said.

“They race that race to make me lose, I’m sure.”

Likewise, Evans said GreenEDGE rode exceptionally for Gerrans this year in Adelaide.

“But I think I can be there for a stage and I can also be there for the overall,” he said.

“It’s only five days and I want to go for everything possible at the Tour Down Under.”

January’s packed cycling schedule will start with the January 2-5 Bay Cycling criterium series, followed by the January 7-11 road nationals.

Melbourne will host the national track championships from January 28-31.

The Great Ocean Rd event will feature a 113km women’s road race, also on January 31.