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Evans drops 'nearly man' label

(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-09-29 13:20

MENDRISIO, Switzerland: Mention Cadel Evans' name to cyclists, fans or media and the reaction you get is likely to contain a mixture of admiration, wonder and mystery.

Australia's Cadel Evans celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the men's road race at the UCI Road World Championships in Mendrisio September 27, 2009. [Agencies]

Evans, a two-time Tour de France runner-up, has become almost as famous for his unpredictable nature on and off the bike as he has for coming agonizingly close to twice winning the race's famous yellow jersey.

Related readings:  Evans pessimistic after poor team result  Evans upbeat despite Dekker drug shock  Evans holds on, but CSC ready for yellow-jersey battle  Australia's Evans crowns in road cycling race  Evans not far off as Armstrong strikes

In spite of his remarkable talent, more than once Evans has had to face down accusations of being a 'choker' who doesn't have the mental tools to win the big races.

But on Sunday, the 32-year-old chose one of cycling's biggest stages, the elite road race at the world championships, to answer back, handing Australia their first men's gold in the elite event.

It wasn't the yellow jersey. But for many aficionados the famous rainbow jersey, which Evans will wear for the next year, is the next best thing.

"The world's been telling me for years I can't win big races, can't win one-day races, because my job is to win stage races, and then today I come out and win the World Championship, I don't quite believe it," said Evans.

"This is an answer to those criticisms that I've had, saying I never attack."

What is arguably Australia's biggest road victory on the world stage could, more importantly, relaunch a career that has also made Evans something of an internet comedy hit.

Known for occasional petulant outbursts, one famous Youtube clip shows Evans striking out at a journalist who got too close for comfort to his injured shoulder, while in another he is heard threatening another for getting too close to his dog.

On the bike Evans has always impressed but come up short of securing career-changing wins.

He made his name as an exciting young mountain biking talent who dominated the sport without winning a World Championship.

After making the gradual transition to the road, he came close to winning his first major Tour at the three-week Giro d'Italia in 2002 before a spectacular collapse meant he finished the race in 14th place.

That served to introduce the Aussie, then only 25, as a possible future winner of the Tour de France.

But after an impressive eighth place finish overall on his debut in 2005 and a fourth place finish in 2006, in 2007 Evans missed out on winning cycling's holy grail by 23secs to Spaniard Alberto Contador.

AFP