kenji666

Contador proved that Cadel with the juice was a formidable match. In the mountains and most definitely in the TT.

FriendlyFred

I'm glad CE won, but have to admit he's not my favorite cyclist. I just dislike the Schlecks more than I dislike CE. When CE is cranking up a Mt, the way he rides always reminds me of that bulldog on Peterbuilt trucks

https://www.iowa80.com/DirectionsWEBT...ges/s25891.jpg

https://www.theroar.com.au/2011/07/15...about-to-fade/

idc

Cadel = Absolute bloody legend!

This. I used to mostly mountain bike + commute and I first because a fan of Cadel when he was just mountain biking. I was amazed to see how well he transitioned to road cycling and finally winning the TdF at 34 is the perfect culmination of his career.

Dolomiti

He was put to the test on many stages, responding to attacks on his own with very little help from other riders, including his teammates. The Serre-Chevalier Galibier stage in particular. For a rider who favors the time trials, he managed to win one of the least time trialist friendly Tours in many years. (if not decades?) Well done.

CHAS

Would like to meet Evans. Not sure I would want him dating my sister.
Glad A Schleck did not win. His looks are too much like a girl I dated in high school who now weighs 250lbs.

Caretaker

I like the way when an interviewer comes out with something like "Cadel, you're one of the most popular riders in the Tour.............." he gives a little smile and guffaw. I have the impression he gets the funny side of all the media attention and doesn't take it too seriously.

For me this is a very definite +.

Gotte

I'm older now and appreciate how much harder it is even to get out of bed without an expletive or two, so to win it when older gets even more admiration from me. Good on the guy.

Laggard

Unreal.

Contador proved that decimating the competition in the Giro makes it really difficult to win the TDF.

dahut

What do we REALLY think of Cadel Evans?

He is a dashing, good looking chap who brings honor to his homeland by winning the TdF.
Gotta love him - the oldest Tour rider since before WWII and the third oldest to win. Congrats, Cadel!
Aussie - OY!

We should also give many props to team BMC, who rode like automatons throughout the race... come whatever bad luck befell them.

dahut

Amen!

dahut

Im also really glad to see they got some hot podium girls for the finish.

AndyGrow

What do I think of him?

Nice guy, looks funny, sounds like a girl, and is one HELLUVA cyclist.

1989Pre 

Seems like a nice guy, and a hell of a rider. That's good enough for me to like him.

Hambonio

You guys do remember that AC was caught doping last year, right? I think it's "unreal" how so many just seem to disregard that fact.

Oh, and good on Cadel. He deserves it for the pulling everyone else up the mountain, and getting 2 minutes back from AS. That's where he won it.

SouthFLpix

I think this was sort of a *magical* year for Cadel Evans. Everything just fell into place for him. Contador was not his usual self for whatever reason (Giro, crashes, ect), Wiggo, who looked very good in the Dauphine (better then Cadel, in fact) crashed out, Kloden crashed out, and the Schlecks were too focused on Contador (imo). This year for Cadel actually reminds me a little bit of how everything sort of aligned for Carlos Sastre in 2008.

Evans, to me, is not a 'dominating' grand tour rider, although he is definitely a very solid one. I do think he earned his win this year, and will surely now become a legend and inspiration for Australian cycling. However, like Sastre, I don't believe he is going to be the type of rider who can follow it up with another win.

That's not trying to take anything away from him, by the way. One TDF win is definitely enough to make a career.

900aero

Congrats to Cadel, champion of the toughest and most prestigious bike race in the world. This guy will be a hero to me for years to come.

To everyone who has whinged & whined through this thread about how he looks, his team, his riding style, his media approach etc....suck it up and be gracious about a champion of our sport. He's not a perfect human being (never claimed to be either) just as none of us are, but is a great, great bike rider. Evans has achieved something timeless after years of struggle and every cyclist here needs to at least acknowledge that.

CHAS

+1

PeddlingPilgrim

correct, cadel is a winner.

i laugh at the typical internet armchair d!ldo doctors claiming he's mental.

CaDan

This is the year I learned to appreciate Cadel's caveman style.

Low in the drops staring straight ahead, nothing moving but his legs and his jaw. Nothing fancy, No "dancing on the pedals". Just hard, grinding work. Andy probably stayed ahead on his breakaway because he was afraid if Cadel caught him, he'd eat him alive for strength.

dahut

At the risk of redundancy, lets not forget his team: Team BMC

They rode like machines the entire race, even losing a few along the way. The only other team as consistent as they was HTC, in my mind.
So there they were today, two men down - guiding Cuddles home like they were proud of him.

When the wheels were spinning and the heat was on, I suspect they were.

Congrats to all of them

eddiepliers 

I think he looks like Stephen King..



And probably as creepy too...

dahut

He kinda reminds me of a cross between Burt Lancaster/Kirk Douglas.

Or a frog:

But you cant fault a guy who loves his dog:

reef58

Do some research on Clen and report back. It is not really used as a performance enhancer. Recreational users use it for fat loss, which I doubt AC had trouble with during the tour. In most people it hinders cardio performance. It is used for cattle to lean them out. AC may have tranfused some off season stuff though.

As far as Cadel goes I am not a fan, but the way he rode on the last two mountain stages gained my respect. That was hard riding and I was sure he would crack, but he was tough this year. He won it without attacking, but he has a heck of a defense. Sort of like the Baltimore Ravens. Tough dude.

R

VegasVic

I think he looks like Randy Quaid.

TommyL

... in a different thread

Cheers to Cadel, makes up for 2008. He had to earn it on the last three stages!