AFP

Cadel Evans 'tired of finishing second' in Tour

Thu, 29 Oct 06:32:30 2009

--AFP/Pascal Pavani

AFP/Pascal Pavani
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SYDNEY (AFP) - Australia's Cadel Evans said Thursday he is fed up of being the nearly man of the Tour de France and is more determined than ever to land cycling's greatest race.

Evans has been dogged by doubt after finishing runner-up in the Tour in 2007 and 2008 and only managing a trouble-plagued 30th place in this year's event.

"I am tired of being known as the bloke who finishes second in the Tour de France," Evans said.

"I had a lot of bad luck this year but I am already looking ahead to next year and am more determined than ever to win it, I won't be satisfied until I have."

The Australian's challenge to this year's eventual winner Alberto Contador ended in the 15th stage, in what he said was one of his worst days of any Tour de France campaign when he fell well behind the leading pack and out of contention.

He had looked on course to win his first grand tour event in the three-week Tour of Spain in September.

However, an ill-timed puncture and bike problems at a crucial part of the 13th stage hindered his chances and he finished third overall.

But later in September the 32-year-old's luck changed as he became the first Australian to win the world championship road race in Switzerland.

Evans said the honour of wearing the coveted world champion's rainbow jersey in races over the next year would help to ease some of the disappointment of the Tour de France.

"It was a great moment for me and the fact I get to wear the rainbow jersey for the rest of the year is a fantastic honour," said Evans, who has returned to Australia to launch his first book, Close to Flying.

"It is unlike the yellow jersey in the Tour de France as you never know how long you get to wear that, and it will mean a great deal to me to wear it in Geelong (Australia) for next year's world championship."

Although he indicated last week that he would compete in Australia's Tour Down Under, Evans said he is still to decide whether he will take part in the Adelaide event in January and ride against American Lance Armstrong.

"There are still some things we need to work on. The race is very early in the year and the Tour de France is in July so I have to consider that," he said.

"That will be the focus of my attentions for 2010 along with the world championships at the back end of the year.

"We will just have to wait and see."

 

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  1. Why do I have to defend myself here Peter?? Peter, I­ am not Cheese or PJ and don't you dare link me with­ anyone else, Got it? I am an individual poster who­ happens to love cycling...Why am I mentioned on this­ thread???

    From Matt, on Sat 31 Oct 11:49AM

  2. Jesus, I am mentioned her also? Peter, stop linking me­ with Cheese or Peter Joachim. Don't you dare link­ me with anyone else here. I am not interested in­ another word war. I am a real poster (an individual)­ who just happens to love cycling.

    From Matt, on Sat 31 Oct 11:46AM

  3. No matter the rivals, Cadel always had 8-10 people from­ all the squads combined to hunt him down. American­ audience do not understand.
    I was joyous for him to win­ worlds. When he found his wife to offer the­ bouquet...priceless.

    From Peter, on Sat 31 Oct 7:40AM

  4. Right!

    Matt actions speak louder than words. Cheese­ Curtain IS Peter Joachim. They are both proliferate­ sports blogs and claim lance as each persona's ying­ and yang.
    The duality has been noted.
    He should be­ banned.
    Commenting on a 21 one year old coming out of­ a coma from an NFL tangent???
    IF the principal was­ lance he would have been strung up and quartered by­ now.

    Please.

    From Peter, on Sat 31 Oct 7:27AM

  5. Cheese Curtain, you are a coward and idiot! I'm­ calling you out punk! You are a fraud!
    You­ disrespectful, un-athletic little man.. You have a­ history now you are fighting for your life.
    Thumbs down­ deary.

    From Peter, on Sat 31 Oct 7:07AM

  6. Peter,
    You are a punk! You damn sure know Matt L and­ myself are not Peter Joachim. Of course we don't­ know that you are not. What are you going to be for­ Halloween? The HEAD cheerleader for Alberto Contador? ­ Silly me, you are supposed to wear a COSTUME for­ Halloween. You are the HEAD cheerleader for Alberto­ Contador everyday. If you want to argue cycling, argue­ cycling. But you are a liar and a punk! I'm­ calling you out!

    From Cheese Curtain, on Sat 31 Oct 6:15AM

  7. Soooooooo, True Peter Joachim has NOT posted since his­ identity exposed as Cheese Curtain and LT Matt.

    From Peter, on Sat 31 Oct 5:49AM

  8. 2 for Andy, interesting. And not single one of the­ "usual suspects" of cycling commentators on­ eurosport give chance to the our down-under ausie. I­ can only join these group of not-believers for­ Cadel's wishes to came true in 2010 regarding TdF.­ He wasted in 2008, blow completely this year, yes he is­ WCH, congratulations, and think is the right time to­ pack his bags on TdF and considering Giro or Vuelta as­ posible chances to win the grand tour.­ Singletrack's predictions for 2010 seems like­ wishes of many fans-anything but AC and LA on the­ podium; still think that is too heavy to say such a­ thing.

    From Goce J, on Fri 30 Oct 6:21PM

  9. top 3

    1 - Andy Schleck
    2 - Lance Armstrong
    3 -­ Alejandro valverde

    Bertie will be in hospital in­ Belguim with a broken collarbone

    From palivesey, on Fri 30 Oct 1:33PM

  10. I can't see it - Evans's best ever chance was­ in 2008, when he lost out to Carlos Sastre. Alberto­ Contador is streets ahead of him in all departments and­ there are some very good climbers next year like­ Shleck, Gessink, Nibali and there's not enough TT­ kms for Cadel to take the time back that he'll­ innevitably lose on the tough mountain stages. Top 10­ probably. Top five possibly, but can't see a­ podium finish and definitely can't see him winning,­ unless something drastic happens.

    From pedro118118, on Fri 30 Oct 9:34AM

  11. Sorry Singletrack, but I have to disagree with your­ standings for the 2010 TDF. Andy might finish first,­ but Evans and Levi will not finish 2nd and 3rd. Evans­ does not have the team behind him and Levi will not­ finish ahead of Lance, even though none of them will­ finish top 3. I would love to see Levi and Lance finish­ top 3, but just don't think it will happen.

    From bikedad_99, on Fri 30 Oct 9:21AM

  12. Hmmm, I'd have thought people would call him­ "that bloke who finished 30th", not­ "that bloke that finishes 2nd" for at least­ another nine months.

    From Thomas, on Thu 29 Oct 11:49PM

  13. Good Luck Evans. I'll be cheering for you to take­ top spot or maybe second to Andy.....Anything to keep­ AC and LA off the podium. My prediction for the 2010­ Tour de France.
    1 - Andy Schleck
    2 - Cadel Evans
    3 -­ Levi leipheimer

    From singletrack, on Thu 29 Oct 3:57PM
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