Tour 2011
 

It was hard but I resisted mentioning the 2011 for fear of putting some sort of interweb jinx on Cadel Evans but it's all over bar the shouting now & he had the ITT of his life last night to put himself into yellow

http://images.smh.com.au/2011/07/24/...adel-420x0.jpg

In Australian cycling terms Evans is now God & the ground on which he walks will forever be revered. In terms of global sporting achievements it is in the same league as Australia winning the Americas Cup in '83

A proud day to be an Aussie :party:

He Rode a very good Tour. He had the help of Big George Hincapie, who know has 9 Tour wins to his credit. He has helped Cadel, Alberto & lance win there Tour Title's. Cadel totally demolished Schleck in the Time Trial. He was down by 57 seconds at the start, & won by well over a minute. So in reality he had over two minutes on him by the end of the TT.

Cadel looks good in black and red but will look a whole lot better riding through Paris in Yellow.
I have been following Cadel's efforts on and off since his mountain biking days. He was a world champ then and has now conquered the ultimate 'mountain' in cycling.
He has hinted next year might be his last Tour, I am so glad he took it out this year.
It is also true he did not do it alone and I am sure he will acknowledge all thos who have helped him, not the least Big George.

I resisted staying up so late last night (done that too many times already during the mountain stages) and have just got off the Tour site after rejoicing at the good news.
I am taking my wife and 3 kids to the park later today for a bike ride - teaching our 5yr old daughter to ride at last solo (without training wheels) she came up with the idea after watching the Tour website with me.
Well done to Cadel and the other aussies (without taking anything away from all the riders nearly 3500kms in 21 days!!!) Special mention to Johnny Hoogerland too after getting 30odd stiches in his legs after being put into a barb wire fence by a car!!

That crash was something else. When that car hit him & he went flying. I said HOLY $!@#. Cadel was a Power house on the bike i will say.

Indeed Hincape has his own chapter in Tour glory. The modern Tour is a team event - I can't think of any rider who has one his own Tour...maybe Indurain's '91 or '92 but my memory's a bit hazy that far back

Cadel had to work hard for the win. He was clearly a happy rider this year & he's fast when he's happy!

Was just watching the start of the final stage and Cadel really does look the part all in yellow on a yellow bike.
It made a good picture with him flanked by the Schleck brothers leading the procession out. Hopefully Cavendish will keep the Green jersey too - he deserves it.

Cavendish is something special in a Bunch sprint. But i think he would be the first to tell you. That with out his lead out Train he most likely would not have all those Stage wins.

Cadel is coming to the USA for a race. We will see how he does in the US mountains.

http://velonews.competitor.com/

http://www.usaprocyclingchallenge.com/