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Australian cycling star Cadel Evans has capped off his impressive year in the world champion’s jersey with another fifth placing on the international rankings.
Evans wound up his season by crashing out of the Giro di Lombardia one-day classic in Italy on the weekend.
His injuries were not serious and he will interrupt planning for next year to attend Tuesday night’s (AEDT) unveiling of the race route for the 2011 Tour de France.
Evans finished on 390 points, the second-straight year he has been fifth, while Spaniard Joaquin Rodriguez topped the rankings with 551.
The Australian honoured the world champion’s rainbow jersey with the best all-round season of his career.
He became the first Australian to win the Fleche Wallonne one-day spring classic and also took out a stage of the Giro d’Italia.
In June, he was leading the UCI world rankings.
A broken elbow ended his chances of winning the Tour de France, but Evans earned plenty of plaudits by still finishing the race.
Evans closed his world championship reign on October 3 with a hard-fought 17th in the men’s elite road race at the Geelong world titles.
His crash on the weekend cruelled his hopes of winning the Tour of Lombardy, one Evans’ favourite races.
“After passing all of the ‘dangerous’ descents, I managed to drop myself on a seemingly safe bit of road 20km from the finish,” the BMC rider said on his website.
“It could have been a lot worse than a brief headache and some head spins – I was good enough to find a direct way to the BMC hot shower and store of gauzes and betadine, still in time to see Phil (Belgian Philippe Gilbert) take the win very convincingly.”
Evans also praised Team Sky support staff for their help immediately after the accident.
While Evans has made the most of his good form, he is also relishing the chance for a break from competition and training.
“So the 2010 season is over … already? I was enjoying it,” he said.
“From here on, we have a few days together for planning BMC’s 2011 season, with a stop off in Paris for the Tour presentation before the off-season really starts.
“A little time away from cycling and catching up on life is actually healthy, so I look forward to what, I feel, is a well deserved rest.”
Australia finished fourth in the nation rankings, down one spot on last year.
Rising star Richie Porte was the next-best Australian on the final men’s rankings in 34th.
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