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The Cadel Evans Diary
Cadel Evans crossed over from mountain bike racing to road in 2002 after a career on dirt that saw him twice win the World Cup series. His progress has been more rapid than anyone expected, with a stint in the leader jersey at the Giro d'Italia that had many tipping him as Australia's best ever talent. Nevertheless, he retains a down-to-earth perspective.
Back into the fray
August 8, 2002
It has been a while since I have made a contribution to my Cyclingnews diary - I have been laying low either on holidays after the Giro (five weeks no racing), back on the bike making sure I was ready for Commonwealth Games, and a little preoccupied since Mapei announced their exit from the sport. Or just lazy maybe...
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So after some time out of racing, I had some lead up races before heading over to the "Mother Country" for Commonwealth Games. As everyone in Australia knows, we had a great time there. Our results, and being with a heap of Aussies again was nice for us Euro-based riders. I think I even got some of my accent back (French and Italian spoken with an Aussie accent is not very easily understood) Outside of the road racing, I was lucky enough to be able to watch the Aussie team pursuiters break the World Record, possibly one of my great sport spectator experiences ever. It is astounding that such a young group of guys is doing so well so soon. Well done guys.
Of course, I was very happy with my ride in the time trial (Cadel won by nearly two minutes - Ed), but it was in the road race that the Aussie team really was impressive. Everyone in the team was riding well and everyone rode a perfect race. Luke Roberts after coming out of the pursuit team three days before did the early work with Nathan O'Neill. We had to hold Nathan back he was riding so strongly. Then Mick Rogers took over, by the time he peeled off there were only eight people in the race left! By this time Stuey O'Grady had already disappeared off so it was up to Baden Cooke (who I think is the quiet revelation of this season) and me to take advantage of our majority numbers. There where six medals between the time trail and road race on offer for us, so for us to take all six was... hmmm, quite unbelievable. I think we will have a pretty good line up at the World's this year.
It was back to Italy for me after some nightmare travel with British Airways - I do not seem to have much luck with them. Most of my worst schedule debacles have been with BA. After a couple of days of celebrations, other Aussie pastimes and a few hours sitting in the airport, it was a bit of a shock to the system to race Camaiore. To many it might sound like a small, insignificant race but to the Tuscans racing in Tuscany is almost as important as the World's. When you count all of the top pros based in Tuscany you understand we covered 48km in the first hour, then we went to the hills... ouch.
San Sebastian followed. It is a great race, really nice course, starting and finishing in the heart of San Sebastian along the sea front. Does it always rain in that place? I was a bit under the weather so to be of a little help to my team mate Bettini was all I could manage. Laurent Jalabert? What a classy bike rider, and a great character. It is going to take a special role model to fill his shoes when he retires at the end of this year.
Coming up for me, I have GP Zurich, so I will hopefully be up with my mate Bettini again. We will see what we can do. Otherwise, for the rest of the year, I have a nice program of one day races including a couple of time trials. No more tours for me, as nice as the Vuelta course looks on paper for a climber, I will save the energy for next year. As for what colours I will be in next year, that is yet to be decided.
Results
- Commonwealth Games time trial
- Commonwealth Games road race
- GP Città di Camaiore
- Clasica San Sebastian
CadelEvans.com - Cadel's own website
