Cadel Evans - 2011 Tour de France Champion!

I've never been so nervous watching a sporting event.

 

So well deserved, what a champion!

 

 

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Permalink Reply by easytiger on July 24, 2011 at 20:07

Not quite right - in the Tour de France Phil Anderson came 10th in 1981, 5th in 1982 (also winning the white jersey), 9th in 1983, 10th in 1984, and 5th in 1985. He was also the first non-European to wear the yellow jersey, in the 1981 Tour.

Cadel in 2006, by coming 4th became the highest placed Australian rider ever in the Tour, bettering that by coming 2nd in 2007, and again in 2008.

That aside, a fantastic effort by Cadel, and let us hope there will always be another wave of young Australian Tour hopefuls inspired by Cadel, like Cadel was inspired by Phil Anderson, and so on.

Permalink Reply by David Richards on July 24, 2011 at 22:51

True and thanks for the correction.  To take nothing away from Cadel's effort, I just wanted to say putting all the jingoism to one side, there's a lot of individual efforts, broken bones and a history of Australian cycling that gone into this win.  The stories of the other 44 Australians that have ridden the Tour should not be forgotten.

Permalink Reply by Julia on July 25, 2011 at 16:30

There is a great book for those that are interested in the history of Australians at the Tour de France, called "Aussie Aussie Aussie Oui Oui Oui". It surprised me that the history goes back much further than Phil Anderson.  No doubt it will now need to be updated.

Permalink Reply by heather on July 24, 2011 at 17:53

Will Cadel get an honour next Australia Day?

Permalink Reply by Patrick O'Kane on July 24, 2011 at 17:58

Good call Heather, can't think of a better candidate for Australian of the Year.

Permalink Reply by heather on July 24, 2011 at 23:09

Does anyone know of a way to encourage this? A potential plus is to highlight cycling and ask for better cycling facilities.

I recall the first TDU. Jon Ivar and I were collecting signatures for a cycling petition that was presented to parliament. The stage in the eastern CBD was casual -- professionals among the milling local cyclists, all dressed in colourful lycra. I got two signatures before I realised they were pros, one was David Millar. Compelled to hand up the signatures which parliament deleted for not being residents.

When the race was over, I cycled around the emptying streets seeking more signatures. Those who were there were in a party mood. Went up to another person, learnt it was Cadel, and asked him to sign the sleeve of my TDU T-shirt. Later I chatted to a young lad who was really envious of my prize.

Permalink Reply by JDL on July 25, 2011 at 20:06

Bloody Neil Craig!! An Aussie wins the biggest sporting event in the world and still can't make the first story on the evening news! I hope Evans doesn't succumb to all of this hype about racing at the TDU next year either (hype probably only in Adelaide I'm guessing)... He got his preparation right this year, would be silly to mess with it and be racing in January.. As much as we'd all love to see him, I'd rather see him on top form in July again..

Permalink Reply by MARK FERGUSON (SPARTACUS) on July 25, 2011 at 21:49

It was Cadel riding the Giro last year that was a mistake not the TDU. Look at what happened to Contador this year. 

I hope Cadel will do the TDU, it won't hurt his TDF defence they are 6 months apart!

Permalink Reply by easytiger on July 25, 2011 at 22:20

BMC did not have a Pro-Tour licence last year so there was no guarantee that the ASO would invite them to Le Tour. So it could never be a mistake accepting a wildcard to the Giro, especially because they were a new team. He came 5th and wore the Maglia Rosa, that is a mistake I would love to make. He was probably fatigued by an extremely hard parcours, the same as Contador was this year.

He should come to the TDU, as a guest not a rider (or at least not racing for GC), because no-one would want him to change a proven successful campaign to Le Tour (apart from the Schlecks).

Permalink Reply by JDL on July 25, 2011 at 23:05

Agreed... I also don't think the TDU in 2010 was a mistake, as mentioned it was a new non-protour team relying on wildcard invitations to the big races (including TDU). He was doing what he had to as well as showing off the jersey.. But as a guaranteed starter and top GC rider at the TDF now, it would be silly to mess with a preparation that has obviously worked for him this year.. Who's the last TDF GC winner that started the (same) season racing in January? It would be great if he were here as a guest..

I don't quite get all of pushing we seem to do with the TDU, thinking we need the best riders etc from the TDF.. TDU is a great event with great riders every year, regardless of whether the big names come..

Permalink Reply by colin ware-lane on July 25, 2011 at 23:10

i think i would leave that to the experts who train him !

Permalink Reply by Simon Lownsborough on July 25, 2011 at 23:23

who is Neil Craig?

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