Cadel Evans on podium, Tour Down Under 2014, stage four

CADEL EVANS

Date of birth: 14/02/1977

From: Katherine, Australia

Team: BMC Racing Team

Previous teams: Silence-Lotto (2005-2009); Team Telekom (2003-2004); Mapei (2002); Saeco (2001); formerly a professional mountain-biker

Cadel Evans career profile

Cadel Evans began his career in professional cycling as a mountain-biker. Evans took back-to-back mountain biking cross-country World Cups yet decided to switch to the road in 2001, riding for the Italian Saeco squad.

Evans impressed many with several major results, including a spell in the maglia rosa at the Giro d'Italia whilst riding for the all-conquering Mapei team.

A move to Team Telekom followed in 2003, but as with many riders who joined the team during the Godefroot-Ullrich era Evans struggled to win favour with the team's management. Already showing signs of developing into a promising stage racer, Evans was not given the opportunity to ride the Tour de France until joining the Lotto team in 2005.

Evans rode strongly in his debut Tour in 2005, becoming the first Australian to finish in the top ten overall since Phil Anderson in 1981.

The Australian bettered his performance in the same race in 2006, finishing fourth to Oscar Pereiro.

Improving again in 2007, Evans rode strongly throughout the race but failed to overcome Alberto Contador in the final time trial.

Evans entered the 2008 Tour de France as one of the race's main favourites after Contador's Astana team was excluded from the race for previous misdemeanours. However, the Australian was once again the bridesmaid and was overwhelmed by the dominance of the CSC team of eventual winner, Carlos Sastre.

Throughout the race, Evans was involved in several confrontational incidents with the media. He used a bodyguard throughout the race and refused to talk with the press at times and even head-butted a camera at one point.

Evans remained with Silence-Lotto team for the 2009 season, where he ultimately failed to make an impact on the Tour de France but placed third overall in the Vuelta a Espana.

Evans used his condition from the Vuelta a Espana to win the 2009 World Championship road race in Switzerland in September with a blistering solo attack in the final 3km of the race.

In November 2009, Evans announced his sudden departure from the Belgian Silence-Lotto team, and promptly signed with the US-based BMC Racing Team.

In 2011, he became the first Australian to win the Tour de France.

Cadel Evans results

2014

Tour Down Under; stage three

Giro del Trentino; stage three

Giro del Trentino; overall

Tour of Utah; stage six

Tour of Utah; stage seven

2013

Tour of Alberta; stage four

2012

Criterium International; stage two ITT

Criterium International; overall

Criterium International; points classification

Criterium du Dauphine; stage one

Criterium du Dauphine; points classification

2011

Tirreno-Adriatico; stage six

Tirreno-Adriatico; overall classification

Tour de Romandie; overall classification

Tour de France; stage four

Tour de France; overall

2010

La Fleche Wallonne

Giro d'Italia; stage seven

2009

Criterium du Dauphiné Libéré; prologue

Criterium du Dauphiné Libéré; points classification

Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali; stage five

World road race Championships

2008

Paris-Nice; stage four

Settimana internazionale di Coppi e Bartali; stage three

Vuelta a Andalucia; stage two

2007

UCI ProTour; overall winner

TT test event, Beijing

2006

Tour de Romandie; overall

Tour de Romandie; stage five

2004

Tour of Austria; overall

Tour of Austria; stage two

2002

Settimana Ciclista Internazionale; stage one

Tour Down Under; stage five

International UNIQA Classic

Commonwealth champion, TT

2001

Tour of Austria; overall

1999

Mountain bike World Cup; overall

1998

Mountain bike World Cup; overall

Related links

Cycling Weekly's Rider Profiles: Index

Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Founded in 1891, Cycling Weekly and its team of expert journalists brings cyclists in-depth reviews, extensive coverage of both professional and domestic racing, as well as fitness advice and 'brew a cuppa and put your feet up' features. Cycling Weekly serves its audience across a range of platforms, from good old-fashioned print to online journalism, and video.