ONE of Australia’s most valued sportsmen of recent years and Tour de France champion, Cadel Evans has called time on his professional cycling career, leaving behind plenty of stories and memories to go down in Australian sporting folklore.
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Bathurst Cycling Club spokesperson Mark Windsor has plenty of fond memories of his own to call upon when it comes to the Grand Tour winner and former World Champion.
Windsor was lucky enough to not only spend time with Evans, but did so as part of the Australian coaching staff during the World Titles of 2001 – 10 years before Evans’ greatest career triumph on the streets of France.
There, he saw potential in the young Evans in the early years after he made the switch from mountain biking to the road.
“I was part of the coaching group who looked after the juniors during the titles at Lisbon in Portugal. I got to see him when it was first recognised what talent he had, and how he could be a big future star of the road,” Windsor said.
“My only regret is that I wish I knew how big he was going to get and that I could have him sign more stuff. Michael Rogers was part of that team as well ... It was wonderful though to be part of that team when he was just a junior member.”
Windsor said following on from that, as Evans’ climb through the ranks continued, his determination rubbed off on those who watched him compete.
“I was over in Mexico when I was watching him in the Tour [de France, 2007]. I was over there again with the national junior team and we’d always be up watching it. It was the year that he just came up short, but it was great for the kids to see him take a tough loss like that on the chin,” he said.
“They watched that and knew that they could always be proud of this guy.”
Evans really put himself on the cycling map in 2009 when he claimed the road race world title in Switzerland.
The 2011 season saw Evans pull off his most memorable victory with the Tour de France. He claimed the overall win after getting the better of Andy Schleck in the individual time trial to snatch the leaders yellow jersey before the final stage.
Windsor says even through all that success Evans found a way to keep himself appealing to fans of the sport.
“He’s the kind of guy who looks like he doesn’t expect people to celebrate him, but he’s been such a great champion for cycling,” he said.
“Cadel is a unique character. I don’t think it would be quite right to call him a typical Australian larrikin, but he’s always been one of those individuals who sticks up for what he thinks is right.”
Evans has confirmed that following the Tour Down Under he will make the inaugural Great Ocean Road Race, which he helped to create, his last event.
Windsor believes it says a lot for the Evans’ character that he chose to make his last races those in front of a home crowd.
“The media are very excited to see him go out in Australia and it looks like something he’s always wanted to do. It would have been understandable if he wanted to race one more time in one of his successful tours, but to call it quits in a race like that which allows the Australian fans to see him off is great,” he said.
“He’s someone who has used his fame for good, I’ve taken a good at the positive messages he gives out. He’s so focused when he’s on the bike, but he maintains interests in so many other things when he’s off it.
“It’s a great Australian story and I’m so glad that I was around to see it.”