Cadel Evans believes Richie Porte can repeat history by winning the Tour de France at 34
CADEL Evans believes the determination to prove people wrong that inspired him to Tour de France glory can fire luckless heir apparent Richie Porte to the same success.
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CADEL Evans believes the determination to prove people wrong that inspired him to Tour de France glory can fire luckless heir apparent Richie Porte to the same success.
Evans was 34 when he buried years of bad luck to win the world’s biggest bike race — the same age compatriot Porte will be when he lines up next July for new team Trek-Segafredo.
Evans was talking to the Herald Sun about the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race, whose fifth edition is set to boast a record number of WorldTour teams.
But the Aussie cycling great also said Porte’s similar years of misfortune might yet become his biggest strength on the roads of France.
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“He’s got another chance in 2019 and we’re all hoping and we’ve all got our fingers crossed for him,” Evans said.
“You have this opportunity in sport and it’s great for me to be able to say I retired at 37, but you don’t get many bites of the cherry.
“He has all the physical characteristics, but he’s got to be able to bring it together and avoid bad luck.”
Evans lost the 2007 and 2008 Tour by a combined 1min21sec, but broke through against the odds to salute in 2011.
“The cycling world lost complete faith in me when I came second in 2008 … that’s when teams lose faith in you, you don’t get chances to lead the team, you don’t get to do the right race program to prepare and doors start to close,” he said.
“But as we get older we also become more focused, whether it’s not being as easily distracted or getting stubborn.
“At the end of my career I just became so conditioned to the ‘let me prove you wrong’ mentality that when some opportunities were closing I was like, ‘Hang on a second’.”
The Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road race will be held from January 24-27, with a People’s Ride and Family Ride preceding a women’s race boasting a bigger field and a men’s race with a greater spread of elite talent.
The picturesque one-day race has produced four different winners from four different countries in what has become a wildly unpredictable affair.
“When you start out in the first year (you’re wondering) are spectators going to come? Are people going to like it? Are the rider’s going to like it?” Evans said.
“But I’d like to think we’ve had strong growth and we’re getting to a point now where the race is really establishing itself … and has a home on the Australian sports calendar.”
Wonderful year for Michelton-Scott
MITCHELTON-Scott has ended a scintillating season with the world’s No.1 ranked male and female riders and a whopping 35 WorldTour wins across its two teams.
Simon Yates last month delivered the Australian men’s team with its maiden Grand Tour title by winning the Vuelta a Espana, while Annemiek van Vleuten did the same for the women with a Giro Rosa victory in July.
The men’s team produced 13 different winners in 14 countries and came within three days of winning May’s Giro d’Italia in which they took out five stages.
They also became the inaugural Hammer Series champions.
“This year has been extremely satisfying for us as an organisation, of course because of the amazing results our riders have achieved but just as much to see the general progression of the entire team,” general manager Shayne Bannan said.
“On and off the bike we have used the learnings of our previous seasons and new developments and structures to enable an environment where our riders have a greater chance of succeeding. Our record this season is the result of the hard work by everyone in this organisation for many years now.
“We have made no secret of our switch towards a general classification focus and our burning desire to win a Grand Tour and to achieve that this season at the Vuelta a Espana, with our team owner Gerry Ryan there to enjoy, was something this organisation will never forget.”
- Sam Edmund
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