It's the term associated with the Aussies that do the hard work to get where they want to be. From Don Bradman carrying Australian cricket on his shoulders, to the crew of Australia II who won the Amercia's Cup and now it is associated with Australian cyclist Cadel Evans. He became the first Australian to win the Tour De France last year. What was so often played down was how hard he fought to win. He's now locked in a battle this year that will require him ride like he has never ridden before.
Evans has always been seen doing everything himself. If you watched the Tour last year, his main rival, Andy Schleck attack the leader, Thomas Voeckler and Cadel Evans on a vicious climb. Even though Voeckler had teammates with him Evans was asked to help. No one helped Evans chase. So, while Schleck continued gaining time, Evans was chasing his lungs out. At one point Schleck had gained over 5 minutes on Evans and would seemingly ride into Paris in the Maillot Jaune. Evans would have none of that. He began a chase that will forever go down in cycling folklore. He slowly but surely ate into Schleck's advantage until Schleck only had a gap of 2 minutes. As a result, come the time trial in Grenbole, Evans was close enough to easily brush past Schleck and claim the lead.
This year, Evans is in a worse position. He trails by 3min 39sec to Briton Bradley Wiggins, a lead almost on the edge of being unassailable. If it's one thing Evans is, it's tough as nails. You can bet your bottom dollar Evans will go for as long and as hard as he can. He needs to attack in the Pyrenees if he wants to successfully defend his title. Not only does he need to claw back the deficit, but he needs to lead by over 3min come the final time trial if he is to hold the lead. As a cycling supporter you'd say it's curtains for Evans. As an Australian you'd say his back's to the wall, he's the underdog and he'll be coming out swinging.
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nice post super, i am a massive Cadel supporter, and he is one of the gutsiest athletes going around, he has faught had and will not win the tour this year but he has again covered himself in glory, cheers
Are you 100% he won't win the Tour? The Pyrenees is still to come and it includes the Col Du Tourmalet. If Evans has recovered properly he could pull back over a minute on that stage. Tonight's stage, although flat, provides a chance for BMC to test a tactic they used in the Dauphine. The entire team got onto the front of the peloton and then broke away, leaving Wiggins and his team a chase they could never complete. Don't be surprised if they attempt again. Cadel hasn't lost hope and while he hasn't, I haven't. There's still a long way to go in this Tour and cycling's a funny sport.
Team Sky is probably the strongest team there, but they've already lost one rider. Porte isn't at his best and one must ask how much Rogers has recovered since all his work over the past few days. If Cadel is going to win, his team is going to have to be at it's best.
super22, Cadel is 99.99% gone, unless wiggo crashes out or has some sort of unforseen drama, he will match cadel in the mountains if not better him, and wiggo will belt him in the last time trial, infact i think he will win by 5-6 mins +.
we are seeing a fine rider in wiggins coming through, for cadel to make a break of 3 .5 mins in the mountains over wiggo, it will be a miracle, even if he does it will take the wind out of him, and wiggo will take him later on in the same leg...
Cadel is a fighter and i am a massive fan, i love cycling and have watched every minute of this years and many more tours, but this time super22, cadel is gone, and we will never see him win another tour if wiggo is in, the only hope is that wiggins gets done for dopeing or has a massive injury, cheers
I'm still holding out hope. Cycling's a funny sport and Wiggo crashed out last year. The one time Wiggins had to accelerate he couldn't. His own teammate was too strong for him. He's going to need a lot of luck and a lot of good riding to win this tour. Then again you make your own luck in cycling. Wiggins has said he's scared of Cadel's power and the Tourmalet is one stage where Cadel can claw back mountains of time. Even if Cadel doesn't win this year I can see him winning one more. He's got a strong team around him and he's still riding well.
OK, now I'll accept defeat. Cadel has said he's disappointed he won't win it this year. However, he hinted he will still attack in tonight's stage saying "I'm not sure if Sky still consider me a threat or if they'll let me in a breakaway." Might be good to see Cadel fighting for a stage victory and he could theoretically pull himself onto the podium if he was to get enough time on Nibali and then beat him in the TT.
super22, from the first stage this year wiggins was never going to lose this years tour, he is an exceptional rider and imo he will dominate the next few years, i said he would win by atleast 6 mins over cadel, now im thinking about 13 mins+.
Cadel has tried his guts out, and he is one of my all time fav aussie sportsman, but he will never win a tour again, his time has come n gone n the young blokes now have his measure, i dont think there is any chance of a podium for him this year, n there is a big chance he will never get one again in the tour, but i would never totally count him out for another podium next year but it will take a super human effort, n dont forget wiggins will get better next year aswell, and with being the best time trialist going round, this really puts him in the frontseat.
with two second places and one overall victory, cadel can be very proud, he goes down in history as a legend and one of our greatest sporting champions, cheers
I can still see Cadel winning another Tour. It just wasn't his year this year. The punctures, the stomach bug. Sometimes lady luck doesn't smile on you like she has before. Wiggins' main competitor was Cadel, let's face it, Van Den Broeck and Nibali were never genuine contenders. Wiggins will have to face Andy Schleck, Contador and Evans next year and he'll be riding with a target on his back. It'll be hard for him to dominate. Sky has been very well organised but they weren't expected to ride as well as they did. It's different when you're the group attacking and the group defending. Last year it was Evans who attacked to put pressure on the man defending the yellow jersey, this year he was the defending champion. The number 1 on his back may as well be a target. He's a fighter and he can still win another Tour. He'll need to ride better than this year but he can still do it. He's strong enough and good enough.
super22, you n i both know that the punctures n stomach bug has nothing to do with losing the tour this year, he was gone well before that, wiggo has his measure big time super22
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