Cadel Evans Wins 2011 Tour de France

by NowPublic Staff | July 23, 2011 at 05:58 pm

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Australian Cadel Evans Makes History in 2011 Tour de France

It's official: Cadel Evans has won the 98th Tour de France. The Australian national anthem was played on the podium at the Champs Elysees for the very first time. Andy and Frank Schleck of Netherlands took second and third.

Tweeted Chiara Passerini, Cadel Evans' wife,

Isn't he gorgeous all in yellow? ;o)

Previously: Cadel Evans will win the 2011 Tour de France, a first for an Australian rider. Andy Schleck and Frank Schleck (Netherlands) will take second and third place. This is another historic moment for the Tour: the first time that two brothers share the podium.

Thomas Voeckler of France is in fourth place, trailing Frank Schleck by 50 seconds. Cadel Evans surged in the final time trial to strip Andy Schleck of the Yellow Jersey.

Tour de France 2011: Standings After Stage 20

One person isn't claiming Cadel Evans as the Tour winner yet: Cadel Evans himself, who said his goal during the last stage is to reach the finish line "without any trouble". Evans is no stranger to injury, so keeping tires on asphalt will be priority #1.

How Can We Declare Who Won the Tour de France Before the Final Stage?

The last stage in the Tour de France is mostly ceremonial, culminating in a spectacular finish along the Champs Elysees. The pack rides together, and the flat terrain means that Cadel Evans just has to avoid crashing to win. A decisive breakaway is virtually unheard-of, unless your driver's license reads "Fignon" or "LeMond"(see below).

Cadel Evans will cross the finish line with a glass of champagne in his hand. Said Australian MP Ed Husic, "I hope Cadel has Men At Work on his earpiece as he's cruising his way down the Champs Elysees."

This year's final stage is Cretiel to Paris, a 95km ride.

“It has been the tradition since 1975 for the Tour de France to end with a prestigious stage finish on the Champs-Élysées. At the start in Créteil, we will remember Laurent Fignon, who held a licence with the local club. In 1989, his duel with Greg LeMond maintained the suspense right to the finish, where Fignon was sure that he would be the winner. That was the only occasion that the final stage was run as a time trial. Every other time, it has been a road stage that has been decided in a bunch sprint, except on four occasions. Those exceptions were the victories taken by Alain Meslet in 1977, Bernard Hinault in 1979, Eddy Seigneur in 1994 and Alexandre Vinokourov in 2005. It is incredibly hard to get a telling gap on this stage when breakaway riders are always within sight of the peloton.”

Half-serious rumor has it that Australian Prime Minister would make Evans' Tour win a public holiday.

Englishman Mark Cavendish looks set to hold the Green Jersey as overall points leader.