Cadel Evans breaks Australia's world championships duck in Switzerland
Cadel Evans ended Australia's long wait for cycling's coveted rainbow jersey when he won the men's road race at the world cycling championships.
Evans escaped a small leading group at the foot of the Novazzano climb on the demanding 262.2km course and forged ahead on his own to end the hopes of a handful of arguably bigger favourites.He grabbed Australia's first gold in the event in six hours 56 minutes with Alexandr Kolobnev of Russia finishing second and Joaquin Rodriguez of Spain third at 27 seconds in arrears.
“The finish line is three kilometres away from my home away from home, so to win a world title here, after having seven world championship medals at home, none of which are gold, is quite exceptional given the bad luck I've encountered this season,'' he said.
“I'm very proud to win the first elite world championships for Australia.''
In a thrilling finale to the most anticipated one-day race of the year, former podium finishers, including Alejandro Valverde of Spain and Damiano Cunego of Italy, failed to shine.
The pair finished nearly a minute behind, with Spain's Olympic champion Samuel Sanchez coming in fourth and Swiss Fabian Cancellara on his wheel to claim fifth.
Evans did well to join on to the back of a nine-man group which formed as Cancellara drove the pace hard late on the way up the Acquafresca climb, the first of two and the most difficult on the 13.8km circuit.
And his well-timed burst took everyone by surprise.
He surged ahead with around 10km to the finish, to be followed by Kolobnev and Rodriguez, but Evans jumped away at the foot of the Novazzano they failed to respond.
“I had the legs and the power to follow Evans but when he attacked on that climb he left us trailing. He was just too powerful,'' Kolobnev said.
The fact that Valverde and Cunego were riding further back marking each other with Cancellara, ultimately gave Evans an extra boost.
After a mute celebration as he crossed the finish line, the Australian then let the emotions take over as he kissed his wedding ring, which he keeps around his neck, several times.
Although next year's world championships will be held in Geelong, where he lives for three months of the year, Evans admitted this local course provided his best chance to become world champion.
“This course suits me better than the one in Geelong and I think I proved that today,'' said Evans.
“It's also an answer to those criticisms that I've had, saying I never attack.''
Agence France-Presse
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