Posted on 07/25/2011 1:12:02 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
Heading into Saturday’s Stage 20 time trial, Cadel Evans faced a 57-second deficit on the leaderboard that provided further drama to one of the most memorable races in recent years.
With confident, dominant performance, he not only made up the gap to catch Andy Schleck, but blew past the overall leader to claim the yellow jersey and ensure a calm, celebratory ride down the Champs Champs- Élysées — glass of champagne in hand.
Evans, a 34-year-old Australian, became the first Aussie to capture the most prestigious title in the sport and the second oldest rider to win the race since World War II.
Evans — who finished second in both 2007 and 2008 and held the lead in 2010 before breaking his elbow in a crash — was part of a tightly-packed group atop the leaderboard for most of the competition, trading spots with Andy and his older brother Frank Schleck and Frenchman Thomas Voeckler among others, but it was Evans’ will and determination to stay with the better climbers during three days in the Alps that set him up for victory on Saturday.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Where have you been the last few weeks?
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2742993/posts?q=1&;page=1#1
Congratulations Australia, another epic fail for the Euroweenies..........
....prepare yourself for the inevitable and unrelenting demand for drug testing by the same Euroweenies.
Evans was on great form the whole tour, rode intelligently when at a disadvantage and courageously when it was needed. He was the best rider.
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