The Australian cycling community have been excited in recent years, and justifiably so, by the exploits of Simon Gerrans.
Enthusiasm reached fever pitch early on Monday morning when the doughty Victorian recorded one of the finest wins in Australian cycling history.
He hung on to the world’s best classic specialists over the hills of the Liege-Bastogne-Liege classic in Belgium and then out sprinted them to finish in first place.
Many Australian cyclists, some with better credentials than Gerrans, have tried their hand at the oldest classic. Yet, despite some close calls and near misses, they have failed to capture the glittering prize.
So, just where does Gerrans stand in the pantheon of great Australian cyclists? Is he in fact the best Australian to ride the roads of Europe as many are suggesting? His classic triumph on the weekend added a second monument to the Milan to San Remo which he claimed a few years ago.
It may be easy to forget, in the wake of Gerrans’ triumph, that another Australian won a significant professional road race last week.
Cadel Evans recorded a notable victory in the Giro del Trentino and his form would have sent a shudder through those competitors who will face him in the Italian Grand Tour.
So is Evans a better bike rider than Gerrans? It’s a subjective opinion of course but Evans is the best and daylight is second!
Evans’ record in the Tour de France alone, a victory and several top ten finishes, should put him at the top of the tree in any vote on Australia’s greatest cyclist. That’s before adding his podium finishes in the other two Grand Tours and victories in lesser races.
Could Evans win a race like Liege-Bastogne-Liege? Yes, and in fact he has done so, securing the Fleche Wallone classic in 2010 and winning the World Road Championship in 2009.
Could Gerrans win the Tour de France? Never.
Simon Gerrans has joined the greats of Australian cycling through his latest triumph but his ability needs to be put into perspective. While his place in Australian cycling history is assured, it is Evans who is still at the top of pyramid.
Do you agree?
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