Cadel Evans, welcome to the Grand Tour club

[Alpe d'Huez]

Evans finally is, no questions asked, the rider his fans always wanted him to be, and his detractors thought he couldn't become.

Agree with you there. I have never been a huge fan, but sort of liked the guy okay. But today he proved what you said, and is a very worthy champion, in the Indian summer of his career. Chapeau Cadel!

 

[fatsprintking]

Cadel is never going to be the sort of bloke that you wish you could go out for a few beers with. His personality is a difficult one and he gets judged against standards that he is always going struggle with at this level.

I am just really happy that to some extent he can now be accepted for who he is, both as a bike rider and a person, and that the focus might shift from what are pretty obvious flaws to the strengths that he has displayed over his whole riding career.

I have a lot of respect for those who are able to stand back and make a fair analysis of what he has achieved in this tour, but Cadel has helped this by not really giving people anything but positives to focus on.

After a lot of negative sentiment about the race after the Pyrenees, this has turned out to be a cracking race.

Well done Cadel and everyone else that has made the race an intriguing contest.

 

[delbified]

what a way to win... steamrolling the opposition and showing himself to be the clearly superior rider in this year's race. after all the detractors, doubters and criticism, this was the perfect way to silence them all. chapeau cadel.

 

[yourwelcome]

Cadel is never going to be the sort of bloke that you wish you could go out for a few beers with. His personality is a difficult one and he gets judged against standards that he is always going struggle with at this level.

I am just really happy that to some extent he can now be accepted for who he is, both as a bike rider and a person, and that the focus might shift from what are pretty obvious flaws to the strengths that he has displayed over his whole riding career.

I have a lot of respect for those who are able to stand back and make a fair analysis of what he has achieved in this tour, but Cadel has helped this by not really giving people anything but positives to focus on.

+1

Part of the reason I'm happy for Cadel Evans finally getting his reward is that he's not the usual cocky alpha-male athlete. In some ways he's had to struggle with being the odd man out in a peloton of them and that makes his victory all the sweeter.

 

[mickkk]

Cadel has never been up himself and despite what most people think, is a pretty affable bloke. Just ask the hundreds of riders that have, by chance, come across him on a training ride.

Welcome to the list of riders to have won the greatest race on Earth. You won it clean and fair and square.

To truly know what it is like to win, you have to first lose.

Cadels prior efforts against drug cheats makes this victory taste so sweet.

Its so well deserved, as Cadel himself said, 20 years in the making. My gang got the tip about 17 years ago, its been a hard slog but well worth the wait.

Congratulations Champ!

 

[auscyclefan94]

SBS broke the record for tv viewers during the 12pm time slot with 2.2 million people watching last night. 10% of Aus population. That's bigger than any NRL or AFL match this year. It was one of the most watched programs all year in Australia.

Will we get more tonight?

 

[kcbworth]

Enjoyed reading his wife's tweets http://twitter.com/#!/ChiaraPasserini

 

[bikeit]

What a f##king legend.

To see his tears of joy in post TT interview and that look of 'Oh my god I have just achieved my life goal' was amazing. I still felt AS thought it was his and that he was just going to get it, a sense of entitlement. Im certain he wouldn't have shown the same emotion (though he might in the future after another 2nd)

Tough as nails this years, anyone who tries to take anything away from his victory can go f##k themselves.

Cadel, you are an Aussie legend!

 

[The Hitch]

SBS broke the record for tv viewers during the 12pm time slot with 2.2 million people watching last night. 10% of Aus population. That's bigger than any NRL or AFL match this year. It was one of the most watched programs all year in Australia.

Will we get more tonight?

How is that nat holiday coming along?

 

[mickkk]

It was good to see Mike T with teary eyes, the sign of a tru fan and proud Aussie. Interesting quote from the man, "Aussies stand out like dogs balls, julia told me so".

Good to see the results of SBS. Sadly I think they are locked into a contract with the Amoury? family who owns the TV rights, as to how long they can broadcast.

If we dont get the entire stage live, it will be a national disgrace. Australian Government should be making enquiries now.

As to a public holiday, too short notice, but everyones gunna sleep in and turn up when they feel like it anyway.

 

[auscyclefan94]

How is that nat holiday coming along?

Well Ed Husic who is a member of Parliament is trying to push for it. There is talk of a stamp being made with Cadel on it. Also talk of a parade in the city. A lot of debate going on talk radio and TV about this possibly being Australia's greatest sporting acheivement/moment.

Supposedly there were BIG crowds in the city who went to a live site in Federation Square where a big screen is. Would of loved to have been at the live site but it was 4oC at 2am so it would of been cold.

A local fish and chips shop in barwon Heads

 

[thrawn]

SBS broke the record for tv viewers during the 12pm time slot with 2.2 million people watching last night. 10% of Aus population. That's bigger than any NRL or AFL match this year. It was one of the most watched programs all year in Australia.

Will we get more tonight?

2.2 Million, wow that is amazing. There can't be much that has beat that this year. Maybe one of the State of Origin games?

 

[dlwssonic]

This was where cuddles TDF victory all started

 

[JA.Tri]

Finally, we can no longer say "why has Cuddles got 0 GTs when Menchov has 3?" - now, Cuddles has 1 and Menchov has 2.

I thought - I think a lot of people thought - his best chance had passed in 2008, and that he was destined to never win it, leaving the sport with a palmarès that, though excellent, didn't fully reflect his quality as a rider. Much of the time, it was his own fault. The Evans of old would have sulked on Galibier at not being helped; the Cuddles of 2011 gritted his teeth and took minutes back. I thought his transition as a rider had happened too late and he'd missed his physical peak years, so that he'd be tactically more astute and a more ballsy rider, but no longer have the physical capability to do it. He proved me wrong. We can talk about the weakened field all we like; we can talk about Contador doing the Giro, the Schlecks making a right mess of Plateau de Beille and the number of name riders that crashed out. But you can only beat the riders against you, and Cadel Evans made damn sure that if somebody was going to profit from those people's mistakes and misfortunes, that person was going to be him. And whenever he has to face criticism for the way the race was won, or the lack of opposition, or whatever, he can just say what Óscar Pereiro says, and that's "I have a yellow jersey at home, and that's all that matters".

Evans finally is, no questions asked, the rider his fans always wanted him to be, and his detractors thought he couldn't become.

That! Awesome post!

Cadel resonates, his awkward sincere manner, his grit: what a rider, like a magnificent wine, he evolves!

To: the riders of Le Tour, with a special mention for: Andy, Tommy, Alberto, Cadel....chapeau

 

[Mr. O'Clock]

Beautiful ride by BMC and Cadel, a truly fine team effort. admirable, Cadels aggressive manner, a champion who has honored sports, cycling and Le Tour.
a win totally deserved by Cadel, hats off to you Cadel, way to persevere.

 

[auscyclefan94]

2.2 Million, wow that is amazing. There can't be much that has beat that this year. Maybe one of the State of Origin games?

Not one State of Origin or Masterchef episode this year beat that. Considering the time slot of the tour, that was quite big.

 

[blaxland]

Not one State of Origin or Masterchef episode this year beat that. Considering the time slot of the tour, that was quite big.

That is great news Aus,lets hope this turns into more airtime next year?And Libertine you where spot on with your assesment in Cadel's transition as a rider over the last 18 months

 

[thrawn]

Not one State of Origin or Masterchef episode this year beat that. Considering the time slot of the tour, that was quite big.

I thought one of the Origin's had 2.3 million viewers, could be wrong though. Where do you find these figures? At any rate, it is incredibly positive for cycling in Australia. It was Channel 9's lead story on the news tonight that lasted for 5 mins.