Cycling in Melbourne Australia
Today is Cadel Evans Day
I've declared today Cadel Evans Day. And possibly for the entire week. Beer o' clock cometh early.
Cadel Evans wins world road championship
Cadel Evans has become Australia's first cycling road-race world champion, winning Sunday's event in Mendrisio, Switzerland.
- World road race cycling results
Evans finished the 262.2 kilometre race in six hours, 56 minutes and 26 seconds, 27 seconds ahead of Russian Alexandr Kolobnev, with Joaquin Rodriguez of Spain taking bronze, also 27 seconds behind the winner.
Evans fought back tears on the podium and said he had seized his best chance of a win on a circuit just a few kilometres from his European home.
"It's a promotion for the world championships in my real hometown, Geelong, in Australia," Evans said.
"The world championships will be there next year but I'll be honest, this course suits me better than the one in Geelong and I think I proved that today."
Melbourne and Geelong will host the 2010 road world championships.
Robbie McEwen is Australia's only other medallist in the history of the event - he finished second behind Italy's Mario Cipollini in 2002.
Evans stunned his opponents with a thrilling solo attack about 3.5km from the finish line.
He had done well to join the back of a nine-man group which formed as time trial champion and local favourite Fabian Cancellara drove the pace hard on the last of 19 laps over the 13.8km circuit.
Kolobnev and Rodriguez were late to respond and the 32-year-old Australian took full advantage.
Australia put together one of their strongest world championship teams in recent years for the 2009 edition, and they rode an outstanding race.
Simon Gerrans, who was tipped alongside dual Tour de France runner-up Evans as their best chances of winning, finished 10th.
Having missed a breakaway, the Australians drove the peloton hard to bridge a gap of more than a minute to a chase group of 28 riders 36 seconds off the lead after 207km.
The field eventually came together and the big names all started to feature towards the front, setting up a pulsating finish.
Cadel Evans wins world road championship
Cadel Evans has become Australia's first cycling road-race world champion, winning Sunday's event in Mendrisio, Switzerland.
- World road race cycling results
Evans finished the 262.2 kilometre race in six hours, 56 minutes and 26 seconds, 27 seconds ahead of Russian Alexandr Kolobnev, with Joaquin Rodriguez of Spain taking bronze, also 27 seconds behind the winner.
Evans fought back tears on the podium and said he had seized his best chance of a win on a circuit just a few kilometres from his European home.
"It's a promotion for the world championships in my real hometown, Geelong, in Australia," Evans said.
"The world championships will be there next year but I'll be honest, this course suits me better than the one in Geelong and I think I proved that today."
Melbourne and Geelong will host the 2010 road world championships.
Robbie McEwen is Australia's only other medallist in the history of the event - he finished second behind Italy's Mario Cipollini in 2002.
Evans stunned his opponents with a thrilling solo attack about 3.5km from the finish line.
He had done well to join the back of a nine-man group which formed as time trial champion and local favourite Fabian Cancellara drove the pace hard on the last of 19 laps over the 13.8km circuit.
Kolobnev and Rodriguez were late to respond and the 32-year-old Australian took full advantage.
Australia put together one of their strongest world championship teams in recent years for the 2009 edition, and they rode an outstanding race.
Simon Gerrans, who was tipped alongside dual Tour de France runner-up Evans as their best chances of winning, finished 10th.
Having missed a breakaway, the Australians drove the peloton hard to bridge a gap of more than a minute to a chase group of 28 riders 36 seconds off the lead after 207km.
The field eventually came together and the big names all started to feature towards the front, setting up a pulsating finish.
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by rougedragon on -
woop woop!
-
Permalink Reply by Rob Kyle on -
FINALLY, Evans does something proactive in a race! Look where 'having a go' get's you Cadel. Hopefully we'll see more of the same in the future.
-
Permalink Reply by Steve Jay on -
Big call, seeing as he's already doing more than most of us here ;-) (You're not his coach, are you? ;-)
-
Permalink Reply by Cory on -
They must be going OFF down the greater Barwon region... err... provided they can see beyond all that blue and white stuff
-
Permalink Reply by Chris Harris on -
Every day is Cadel Evens day !
-
Permalink Reply by ema watson on
Australian Cycling Blogs et al
© 2010 Created by DamianM
