Cadel Evans wins Le tour de France 2011.

[paul edwards]

  Cadel Evans you bloody beauty.

Epic, brilliant ride. Fantastic and historic victory, WOW.
l have been watching most nights, eyes hanging out the next day, but what an event the Tour de France is, just awesome in every sense of the word and now Cadel has done it.

Le tour de France was my inspiration last year to get the Alpine Chapter up and running, hence the name "Le tour de North East" Alpine drive, so if you have been wondering why it has a French name that is why.

Cheers Paul 

[Neil Choi]

Yes, Paul.

I too have stayed up the last few of nights to watch the race with excitement.  Fantastic, close racing in a long while.  Evans breaking bike and losing a minute in Stage 19 towards Alpe d'Huez then fight back was excellent.

Always wanted to organize a ride/race weekend.

Ride road bike on Saturday up your end of the woods, up Buffalo would be fun.

Then Race Alfa at Winton on Sunday.

Wonder how many Cycling alfa nuts are in the club?  Road cycling that is!!!!

Neil

I will get around to organizing AR club cycling kit soon, once I am less busy with race.

[TFJ100]

I'm nuts enough to race you all on bikes, before doing so in my car at Winton...

...only problem is no way to fit the bike in the Alfa...it has to go via the family wagon instead.

I'd be happy with a Beach Road ride in the fancy new kit Neil has planned.

Hey Neil, do you think you could do a shirt with half of the Alfa badge on the back of one rider, and the matching half on the next rider along? That way when we ride double file, it shows up a single Alfa badge?

Torben

[Davidm1600]

Hey Torben, Neil previously some years back produced a set of Alfa nicks and jersey in red, and look great.  I have a set and have used them for years as my main cycling gear. 

But heck way to go Cadel, you little ripper, I too was up late last night watching right to the end and god it felt good to see him give what for to the Schlek express. 

I have been watching the Le Grand Tour for the past 21 years and it felt so good to see an Aussie at last win this race.  I recall watching Phil Anderson, Robbie McEwan, Brad McGee, etc over the years and that has been good, but seeing Cadel over this years Tour, he was so impressive, to match the Schleks, Contador, Sammy Sanchez etc definitely showed his class.  But his ability in the time trial was the difference.

Mind you it is also good to see some new talent coming through including Richie Porte, Matty Goss etc, is really encouraging.   

This is big for cycling in Aus, and am looking forward to seeing Cadel enjoy the champagne on the way to Paris. 

[Neil Choi]

Here's a pic.

[twistybits]

This for me has been perhaps the most addictive Tour thus far!
I'm near exhaustion from the lack of sleep but to see Cadel blow the Schleck brothers away last night made in all worth while.
I must say i have developed a real liking towards the tenacious Thomas Voeckler. Fantastic courage.
Agree, this will be huge for Australian Cycling. I dusted off my Floyd Landis BMC replica this morning and felt motivated to climb Arthurs Seat for the first time in a while. As I sit at my computer trying not to cramp up after my paltry 80km ride, my admiration for these athletes can not be measured.
Surely Cadels efforts must get a few large Aussie companies enthusiastic about sponsoring an all Australian line up in the future??
Look out for the SBS special on Cadel Evens to be shown on Monday night.

[bix]

Yes it brought a tear to my eye to see Cadel on the podium in Paris. I was almost as emotional as the time I saw Simon Gerrens in my local pizza shop just after the 2008 Tour, where he won stage 15 - a mountain stage at that http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Tour_de_France,_Stage_12_to_Stage_21#Stage_15
I was so excited, I decided to drag out 3 generations of italian bikes from the garage - all dusty and tyres flat as a tack. Maybe I'll work up the motivation to get out on one soon!

[Simon Bidese]

i got inspired and went to venture out on Sunday morning....the rain but an end to that.....yeah soft i know.

Got back on it yesterday.....just a lazy 2.3 degrees on the way to work in Melbourne.

The weekend is looking good maybe a trip up Mt Dandenong is on the cards

[alfagtv58]

While up in the Dandenongs pop in to my place for a coffe Simon, if your game, as my street is on a 9 degree incline.  Going up your heart jumps out of your chest, but going down ive seen 95kmh....which is as quick as I have ever been on a bike (non-motorised  ).

I have watched the tour for more years than i care to remember, this years was the best one since the Armstrong / Ulrich battle, if not the best ever - I am really enjoying some sleep again and not being so grumpy.

Forza Cadel 

[Neil Choi]

Simon

If I am not working on Alfa which I should be, I was thinking of a ride.  but not fit at all at the moment.  Dandenongs sound interesting.

Neil

[Simon Bidese]

Neil - PM me your mobile and i'll let u know if i get out on Saturday or Sunday morning (weather dependant = white bike)

Phil i remember your street.....i hope your got breakfast beers on tap for when we get there

Cheers

Simon