Cadel Evans is re-born. Since winning the rainbow jersey of World Champion last year, he has shown a more aggressive side and today it paid off with a win at Flèche Wallonne in Belgium.
Today, he reigned as champion on the Mur de Huy when he delivered the knockout punch against his Tour de France rivals Alberto Contador and Andy Schleck.
"It's an honour to win in the rainbow jersey. I want to continue to honour it throughout the season," the Australian of BMC Racing said. "They say the jersey changes you, but it is everyone around you who changes."
Since winning the jersey last September in Mendrisio, Switzerland, Evans changed teams from Silence-Lotto. He hit out immediately from the start of 2010 at the Tour Down Under, racing aggressively on home soil. His fight also continued in Tirreno-Adriatico and at Amstel Gold Sunday.
"I have changed teams and I have been well supported, which gives me more motivation to race."
Which begged the question: Did Silence-Lotto not support him well before he broke his contract a year early?
"I never said that."
Regardless of the team, Evans is re-born and aggressive. He timed to perfection his attack on the 1,300-metre long Mur de Huy, which traditionally ends the Flèche Wallonne. He closed in on Contador and left Schleck further down the climb.
"It is interesting to see how I am going here, first in Amstel and now at Flèche. The only disadvantage is that now everyone will be watching me for Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
"The Huy is a hard one to judge. Andreas Klöden went away early. Euskaltel controlled it and then Contador went. I thought that was it, but then I closed in on him.
"It was first important to win and then to beat Alberto Contador at the finish makes it more of an honour. It is great to see the Tour de France riders crossing over and racing the one-day races."
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Evans claims first victory as World Champ in Fleche Wallonne
