Why, you say? This Cadel bloke has had a number of run-ins with the media. He has a body guard whilst on tour and it seems that he gets more press for comments he makes to reporters, than he does for his performance in what I believe to be the toughest event in the mainstream sporting world.
But wait there’s more… I am also really worried because I am a great admirer with Cadel. You see, in the nineties I dabbled in various kinds of mountain bike races, never did that well, but had loads of fun and met some similarly crazy cyclists. One such event took pace at Thredbo in NSW and one of the young guns was Cadel Evans. So I had met the guy years ago. Since then, I have quietly watched Evan’s make a successful go of both major codes of cycling ( mountain biking and road biking). Perhaps I have thought occasionally why did I not follow my dream like this guy did?
In a nut shell I was really worried. Had he turned into some stuck up famous sport star who would rip me apart and I would spend weeks or months recovering with a bruised ego and no right of reply?
So what happened?
I’ll tell what happened…Cadel is a complete gentleman!!! Forget anything you have seen on TV about press and all that garbage… Cadel is the most ‘real’ and lovely guy you could hope to meet. This was the most fun interview ever and what I would do to hangout more with this legend!!! Anyway enough gushing, lets get down to business…
Some history
With a relatively small frame and determined approach Cadel dominated most cross country mountain bike events in Australia throughout the 90’s. He landed some good sponsors event though the sports was not very large at all. Cadel rode at the Olympics on the mountain bike category in 2000 finishing seventh in a tough field and proving that he had a motor hidden inside that could run efficiently and effortlessly, well after most of his competitors had given up.
Even before this success however Evans was dabbling seriously into the road biking scene. Such a change would allow him to enter the extremely competitive world with much higher stakes and a chance at real glory. As we all know the move was a good one. A decade later Cadel Evans is one of the world’s most successful cyclists and certainly one worthy of the respect a sport superstar deserves.
WHO IS CADEL EVANS?
Firstly the facts. Cadel’s body weight is 67kgs, 174cm tall, he is 32 years old, married to a lovely Swiss girl named Chiara. Now living Lugnorre Switzerland, but really an aussie from Barwon Heads, Victoria. Cadel has a season that lasts from February to October each year and he will race for at least 80 days in that period. He will cycle between 30,000 and 40,000 kms each year, 10,000 of these are in competition. An average training day sees him cover 130km on a bike that weighs 6.8kg. The Tour De France is staged over 22 days and covers 3700 kms. Cadel and most who compete in this awesome race, spend over 10 years in preparation. The racing scene in Europe is huge and generates massive crowds, dollars and spectacular footage.
This is not a career to take lightly. Preparation for the tours in Europe is expensive, time consuming and dominates ones life. To get near the top you have to have a fitness level that few can understand, you need mental and physical preparation that requires a winning team behind you, and finally you need superior cycling skills. In a race like the Tour De France, the cyclists often are exposed to dangers that can easily destroy all their preparation in a spilt second.
He will cycle between 30,000 and 40,000 kms each year, 10,000 of these are in competition. An average training day sees him cover 130km on a bike that weighs 6.8kg.
After chatting with Cadel I realized I was chatting with a very friendly, humble individual. Cadel was, funny and relaxed, interesting and into living life. So many athletes are so dedicated to their sport that they will not talk about anything outside that comfort zone. And that is OK, it is what we expect, Cadel is more than an athlete…he is a person with a really big heart for life, loads of interests and passions…he also just so happens to be the best cyclist Australia has ever produced. In fact I would go so far as to say his success played a distant second to who he is as a person. If you met Cadel without knowing anything about him I bet, after half an hour of chatting you would have covered life, music, the Deli lama, travel and his home country. The next day you would pick up a paper and do a double take as you realized you have been speaking to a cycling god!
He demonstrated this to me when, in the interview I worked up the guts to ask him how he managed to get back on his bike after the let-down of the past 2 tours, where he came second both times.( I was nervous about asking the obvious!!) I mean, how do you go through all the preparation again and the stress, the press, the not knowing how you will do? Cadel’s answer was simple and direct. He said there were more important things and other stresses in his life rather than the Tour de France! I was shocked because, the guy we see on TV is a machine, with one purpose in life and that was to win the Tour De France. This is one athlete who is a person first, World Champion second!
Back to the training, Cadel has been through every possible coaching technique and has access to every conceivable performance enhancement coaching resource that we have ever heard of. At the end of the day Cadel believes his best training is in the saddle. He spends 5 hours a day 7 days a week on the bike, he also does 2-3 core workouts a week and is heavily into Pilates and yoga. He gets dietary advice, regular massage sessions each week, and, utilises his heart rate whilst training. Above all this however Cadel declares that most preparation has been done in the past 10-15 years of cycling. The groundwork of hours or training builds and builds into a platform that gets a cyclist to a level where they could contemplate a 22 day stage race.
Regarding nutrition, he has just designed his own training bar which is available in Australia, called the “Cadel Mountain Mix” by Winners bars. We got a box sent to us and they disappeared at record speed! Try your local Woolies or Safeway for these bars, well worth a look if you are into endurance events.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TO WATCH THE TOUR DE FRANCE (and understand what’s going on!)
- The Tour de France covers approximately 3,700 kms in 20 individual stages, with a different course every year. At the very end which always includes a lap on the Champs-Elyse’es, the rider with the lowest combined time takes home the trophy– and the ‘maillot jaune’ (yellow jersey).
- To wear the yellow jersey during the race, you must finish any single stage in the shortest time. The red-and-while polkadot jersey goes to the King of the Mountains–the overall best climber. The most consistent finisher of all the stages (often a strong sprinter) wins the green jersey for most points, while the white jersey is awarded to the top finisher under the age of 25.
- Each tour includes brutal mountain passes in the Pyrenees and the alps which require massive stamina. The flatter stages favour different cyclists with amazing sustainable speed skills. A brilliant rider combines his/her strengths to keep at the front in all stages of the race.
- Individual Time Trials are included where riders start at set intervals and cannot give or receive a draft. Team Time Trials allow the team to help each other to get their favourite rider the best possible time.
What you need to know about Cadel to feel like you really know him!
- His favourite movie’s are Pulp Fiction and Dances With Wolves
- He has at least 3 more Tour De Frances in him.
- Favourite musician Paul Kelly
- Biggest stress in life is to crash his bike and injure himself
- The celebration drink, if he can get it in Europe is a Coopers.
- Favourite food is European bread
- Sporting Hero Peter Brock.
- Goal for 2009 tour de France is to place one place better than last year!
In conclusion…
we did not learn any quickfixes that would help us suddenly become world class cyclists, but we did meet a genuine Aussie athlete who has taken on the world’s best in true Aussie style and become a legend in the process. Cadel Evans is a man on a mission, part of that mission is to win the Tour De France, the other part is to enjoy a balanced life with friends and family close by.
Check out www.cadelevans.com.au for more information and race results.
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