Oh my God – I forgot to do a Tour De France Write up!

Went through the agony of watching it (late nights and all), but never the chore of writing about it (here's the abridged version).

So, mucho congrats to Cadel Evans, first of my countrymen to ever pull on the maillot jaune on the podium on the Champs Elysees!

Félicitations monsieur Cadel!

Thoroughly enjoyed the race : all the drama, shenanigans, terror, incessant whining, petty drama, heroics, and sheer guts and determination.

Cadel won it how he usually rides: to the edge of his ability and digging deep. His style isn't for everyone, but I think it's his singular strength. In the past, he's definitely cracked big time on a crucial point, but this year he stayed strong and took his destiny into his own hands: a resolve which he's perhaps lacked in the past at Le Tour. A huge effort and an inspirational one.

Chapeau Cadel!

Apart from the win, my rider of the Tour: Thor Hushovd. His two stage wins were epic: he's really making a show of strength on long rolling stages his forte now, and the race is all the better for it.

Chapeau Thor!

Not sure about the teaming of Cadel and Thor on the same unit, but time will tell! Roll on BMC 2012!

Ride Safe!

Cadel you bloody beauty!

Cadel is the 2009 road race World Champion! Too bloody amazing!

After a year which bore some heartaches and some near misses, along with luck that, at times, would test anyone, at Mendrisio, Switzerland Cadel scores the biggest win of his career thus far.

24 hours after the final stage of the Le Tour, I'd thought Cadel's year was done and dusted, and that he should take a break to recover from the mental bust-up he'd clearly experienced.

The Vuelta proved his resurgence, with a hugely gutsy effort to claw back onto the podium after some less-than-average luck which cost him all but 9 seconds of the final gap between himself and the winner Valverde. After the melt down of Le Tour, that was truely a marvellous effort to turn around his year.

And now, with some wonderful support from his Australian teammates, and a huge move on the final climb up the Novazzano to break his rivals, Cadel climbs on the top of the podium and has gold hung around his neck atop the WC jersey. Pretty epic by anyone's standards.

Cadel and the Australian team, Oz salutes you!

Ride safe!

Cadel Evans wins ProTour classification

Go Cadel! A great result for a great year of riding. Cadel has shown he's a great GC rider, consistent and strong across the bike. He's done a power of work this year. Go to Cycling News to read the two part interview with him (linky below):

Cadel Evans interview on Cycling News

Also, check out his website and leave him a 'good onya' message.

Cadel's Website