Australian Cadel Evans wins the 2011 Tour De France

Cadel Evans finishes ahead of 3 time runner up Andy Schleck

The penultimate stage of the Tour De France gave us its new champion, Team BMC’s Cadel Evans. With the final stage a processional send off reserved for its winner to sup champagne and pose for the cameras, a second place in the final stage was enough for Evans to become the first Australian to have won the Tour. Evan’s superior time trialling ability nullified the losses accrued in the mountains, and the battle of the two time runner ups, put him ahead of Andy Schleck with brother Frank Schleck finishing in third.

Andy Schleck knew Evans had the better of him in the time trial and in a repeat of last years battle with Alberto Contador, attacked relentlessly throughout the Alpine stages. It’s 100 years since the Tour first entered the Alps and few Tours in recent years could have matched this years for difficulty and for drama. Evans would not be shaken off and despite marginal losses he fought to keep the Schlecks within touching distance as we entered the final test.

Olympic champion Samuel Sanchez had won the King of the Mountains Jersey yesterday, whilst the best young rider was Frenchman and Alpe-D’Huez stage winner Pierre Roland. But the glory and spoils went to the Australian in what was one of the most dramatic finishes in recent times. Going into the 42 1/2km time trial, three men, (the Schleck brothers and Evans) had a realistic chance of winning the Tour. 57 seconds separated the top three. Andy Schleck clearly tired from his two days out in front on the mountains, simply had nothing left in his legs. His brother Frank also fell away finally finishing third. But Evans simply blew the opposition away, second only to Tony Martin on the day, but a minute ahead of the rest.

On the final day only the Green Jersey is up for grabs, and a straight fight between Mark Cavendish and Jose Joaquin Rojas on the Champs D’Elysee in Paris. But after a battling display in the Alps and a gutsy display in stage 20, few can begrudge Evans the spoils of overall glory.