Aussie Evans toasts maiden Tour title
Source: Agencies |
July 25, 2011, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
CADEL Evans became the first Australian to win the Tour de France after staying safe in the peloton in yesterday's final stage won by Briton Mark Cavendish on the Champs Elysees in Paris for the third year in a row.
The 34-year-old Evans, the oldest Tour winner since World War II, showed resilience throughout as he broke three-time champion Alberto Contador's unbeaten run in a grand tour since 2007.
Luxembourg's Andy Schleck was second overall for the third year in succession, 1:34 behind Evans, who claimed his maiden grand tour title.
Frank Schleck was third, 2:30 off the pace as two brothers climbed on the final Tour de France podium for the first time.
Evans's victory also broke Spanish domination of the race after Alberto Contador (2007, 09, 10), Oscar Pereiro (2006) and Carlos Sastre (2008) had claimed five titles in a row.
The Australian only took the overall leader's yellow jersey after Saturday's final time trial in Grenoble in which he humbled Andy Schleck by 2:31, easily overcoming a 57-second deficit.
Cavendish was also made to wait to finally claim the green jersey for the points classification after starting the day with a 15-point advantage over Spain's Jose Roaquin Rojas.
He won the bunch sprint at the end of the 95-kilometer ride from Creteil after once again benefiting from his HTC-Highroad team's lead-out train.
The Briton beat Norway's Edvald Boasson Hagen and German Andre Greipel, who were second and third, respectively.
Garmin-Cervelo, which won the team time trial and stages through American Tyler Farrar and Norwegian Thor Hushovd, won the team standings.
Frenchman Pierre Rolland, who won the prestigious stage to l'Alpe d'Huez, claimed the white jersey for the best under-25 rider while Spaniard Samuel Sanchez won the polka-dot jersey for the best climber.
Earlier, wearing the leader's yellow jersey, Evans, the BMC Team leader, celebrated with a glass of champagne as the riders made their way into Paris.
After starting the stage on a specially painted yellow bike, Evans switched back to his normal bike. The team said he wanted to finish on the bike that he'd won the race on.
The riders competed in 21 stages over the past three weeks, for a total of 3,430.5 kilometers.
The 34-year-old Evans, the oldest Tour winner since World War II, showed resilience throughout as he broke three-time champion Alberto Contador's unbeaten run in a grand tour since 2007.
Luxembourg's Andy Schleck was second overall for the third year in succession, 1:34 behind Evans, who claimed his maiden grand tour title.
Frank Schleck was third, 2:30 off the pace as two brothers climbed on the final Tour de France podium for the first time.
Evans's victory also broke Spanish domination of the race after Alberto Contador (2007, 09, 10), Oscar Pereiro (2006) and Carlos Sastre (2008) had claimed five titles in a row.
The Australian only took the overall leader's yellow jersey after Saturday's final time trial in Grenoble in which he humbled Andy Schleck by 2:31, easily overcoming a 57-second deficit.
Cavendish was also made to wait to finally claim the green jersey for the points classification after starting the day with a 15-point advantage over Spain's Jose Roaquin Rojas.
He won the bunch sprint at the end of the 95-kilometer ride from Creteil after once again benefiting from his HTC-Highroad team's lead-out train.
The Briton beat Norway's Edvald Boasson Hagen and German Andre Greipel, who were second and third, respectively.
Garmin-Cervelo, which won the team time trial and stages through American Tyler Farrar and Norwegian Thor Hushovd, won the team standings.
Frenchman Pierre Rolland, who won the prestigious stage to l'Alpe d'Huez, claimed the white jersey for the best under-25 rider while Spaniard Samuel Sanchez won the polka-dot jersey for the best climber.
Earlier, wearing the leader's yellow jersey, Evans, the BMC Team leader, celebrated with a glass of champagne as the riders made their way into Paris.
After starting the stage on a specially painted yellow bike, Evans switched back to his normal bike. The team said he wanted to finish on the bike that he'd won the race on.
The riders competed in 21 stages over the past three weeks, for a total of 3,430.5 kilometers.
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