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The “race of truth” proclaimed Cadel Evans the champion of the 2011 Tour de France. It also made him an Australian sporting legend.
No longer do Australians have to look at a four legged animal that was born in New Zealand and died over 60 years ago to understand what having a big heart is all about.
We now have a 34-year-old Australian to do this for us.
His perseverance, his toughness and his brilliance was put on display for one final phenomenal performance, the decisive 42.5km individual time trial in the picturesque town of Grenoble.
Cadel Evans did not just win. He declared loud and clear that he was by far the strongest rider on tour.
He started the day 57 seconds behind yellow jersey holder Andy Schleck and four seconds behind his brother Frank Schleck.
But they did not stand a chance as St. Cadel went about slaying the two-headed dragon.
In a superb demonstration of time trialling, only one man – time trial specialist Tony Martin – finished the course faster than Evans and that was only by a mere seven seconds.
Cadel Evans completed the course in 55 minutes and 40 seconds.
The unfortunate Schlecks, left in his wake, recorded times over two and half minutes slower than Evans.
Evans overtook Andy Schleck in the standings by a decisive margin of one minute and 34 seconds.
Cadel Evans finished the day triumphant. A new hero was born.
All he needs to do now is complete tonight’s final 95km stage from Créteil to the Paris Champs-Élysées.
It will be his coronation, not only as the first ever Australian winner of the Tour de France, but as an Australian sporting god.
Congratulations, Cadel.
Art Sapphire is the pseudonym for Athas Zafiris, and is on Twitter @ArtSapphire
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