“This is an amazing project and can only help promote the wonderful sport of cycling and all of the benefits cycling brings to people from all walks of life and all parts of the globe. I wish Chris all the best in his endeavors.” Cadel Evans
Tour de France winner in 2011 and consecutive runner up finishes in arguably the toughest sporting event in the world has elevated Cadel Evans to one of Australia’s most prominent sportsman. In 2007 Evans became the highest ever placed Australian in the Tour de France when he finishing second, and the first Australian to win the UCI ProTour. In last year’s tour, Evans battled the pain of a crash in the early stages, the strongest riders in the world and the highest peaks in Europe to again finish second, a remarkable result.
Following the 2008 tour, Evans competed in the Beijing Olympics and despite suffering injuries and exhaustion he managed to claim fifth place in the time-trial and put in a courageous team effort in the road race.
Evans began his International career with the Australian Institute of Sport MTB team and prior to that was an exceptional mountain biker, winning silver medals at the 1997 and 1999 MTB U23 World Championships, and bronze medals at the 1995 Junior World Road Cycling Time Trial.
Some of Cadel’s major achievements as a road cyclist include winner of the 2011 Tour de France, a stage win in the Austria Tour in 2001, a stage win of the Tour Down Under in 2002 and being crowned the Commonwealth Games time trial Champion. He also had the overall win in the Austria Tour 2004, fifth in the Tour of Germany in 2005 and first place in the Mountains Classification in the Tour Down Under in 2006. Recently, Cadel claimed his second consecutive Australian Cyclist of the Year Award and was voted by the public as 2007 Australian Sports Performer of the Year.
Evans is known to many as a team player and relentless competitor. During his career he has been a member of many teams including Saeco (2001), Mapei (2002), and the T-Mobile team (2003/2004). In 2005 Evans signed with Davitamon-Lotto and on his first Tour de France later that year achieved 8th place in the overall General Classification. He then bettered this performance in 2006, finishing 5th overall in the General Classification. He was also the second Australian ever to have won the Tour de Romandie which has been running since 1947.
Evans lives in Switzerland for the European cycling season and retreats to Melbourne in the off season. Although an immensely talented and determined individual, Evans is also an incredibly humble athlete who supports various charities and is very passionate about representing his country. A fantastic ambassador for Australia, Cadel Evans has arrived as one of the country’s greatest sports stars.
