Champion rider Cadel Evans fray his mother's nerves

CADEL Evans is our greatest ever road cyclist but Helen Cocks was watching her son just like any other nervous parent would on Friday.

Helen Cocks, Cadel Evans' mum, with partner Geoff Schmidt during Stage 4 of the Santos Tour Down Under. Picture:...

CADEL Evans is Australia's greatest ever road cyclist and its only Tour de France winner but Helen Cocks was watching her son just like any other nervous parent would in the crowd at Victor Harbor on Friday.

Watching Stage 4 of the Tour Down Under unfold on the big screen, she winced when it showed footage of Evans almost falling from his bike when he dropped his chain and had to change bikes mid-race.

But he recovered to retain the leader's ochre jersey going into today's epic stage that finishes in front of thousands of people on top of Willunga Hill.

His mother made the trip to Adelaide from Melbourne with partner Geoff Schmidt for this week's Tour Down Under and they've been to every stage - except Thursday when her son stormed into the overall lead with a frantic descent down Corkscrew Road into Campbelltown.

"I'd been out riding my bike and got back in time to watch it on TV," she said.

"I was saying 'slow down, slow down' because I hate going downhill and watching him race downhill.

"But it's still amazing to see him racing. I'm proud of what he's achieved as a cyclist but it's the person he is that I'm most proud of.

"He has always been just who he is, some people find it a bit odd but I admire people who just are who they are."

With Evans racing the national titles for the first time since 2005 and the TDU for the first time since 2010, it meant he, wife Chiara and their son Robel enjoyed an extended stay in Australia over summer.

"That was really special and we had a lovely time spending time with Robel, he's the dearest little boy," Helen said.

"We go over (to Europe) every two years or so but the season is so long we try to go over when he's (Evans) not racing."

She said she had been to about six editions of the TDU and was a big fan of Adelaide and its cycling culture.

"I started coming because Cadel was racing but it's just a fantastic race," she said.

"It's like a European race with an Australian touch which makes it quite unique.

"Adelaide is great to ride around, it's fabulous.

"I'm not a cycling fanatic but I like to ride my bike and we've been riding with friends to Glenelg and West Beach."