Cadel Evans becomes first-ever Australian to win the tournament; wants to set a good example for athletes in the dope-tainted sport
Cadel Evans becomes first-ever Australian to win the tournament; wants to set a good example for athletes in the dope-tainted sportCadel Evans yesterday savoured the taste of champagne and his day in the yellow jersey as he became Australia's first Tour de France champion.
The 34-year-old BMC Racing team leader secured victory when he turned a 57-second deficit into a lead of one minute 34 seconds in Saturday's 42.5-kilometre time-trial in Grenoble.
That left Evans ahead of Andy and Frank Schleck (both Leopard Trek), who became the first brothers on the Tour podium in Paris.
Wearing the yellow jersey for the first time on this year's Tour, Evans yesterday rolled around the 95km, 21st stage from Creteil to the Champs-Elysees in a celebratory procession, but not without a hitch.
The two-time Tour runner-up had to swap his special yellow bike for the team issue black and red version 11km into the stage.
The 2009 world champion is, according to some observers, the winner of the cleanest Tour for years, the scourge of doping having tarnished the sport's biggest race on many occasions.
But Evans ducked the question of doping at the race winner's press conference.
Asked how much he thought the efforts to clean up the sport have enabled him to triumph, Evans said: "I don't think I'm in a good position to comment on that. Sorry."
Pressed to use his position as Tour winner to comment on the issue which has plagued the sport for decades, Evans added: "I think the best thing I can do as an athlete is to give a good example. I'm trying to be the best example I can and let other people have their opinions on other athletes and society." ufffd
