The New Patron: Cadel Comes of Age

Cadel Evans has long been villified by both the press and cycling fans for his perceived lack of panache as a rider. Often labeled a wheelsucker over the years, Evans has always been successful as a cyclist, but has not exhibited the killer instict to attack during races. His detractors have said that Evans can never win a grand tour because he isn't willing to attack for victories.

But perhaps the press and fans had it wrong all these years. Perhaps Cadel knew something we didn't, and had a plan that he didn't want to share with the public. Perhaps way back in 2002, when Evans briefly took the maglia rosa in the Giro, an idea was hatched. A former mountain bike champion, Evans realized in the 2002 Giro that he could compete on the road, at the highest level of the sport. And so over the next few years, he studied other riders past, present, and future, and modeled himself after a Spaniard who was sometimes criticized for his lack of panache: Miguel Indurain.

"Big Mig" was the first ever to win five straight Tours de France. Not only that, he took two Paris Nice's and Giro d'Italia's, and one each of the Dauphine Libere, Criterium International, Classica de San Sebastian, and Tour de l'Avenir. He won his stage races methodically, and with great patience. An excellent time trialist, Indurain was able to take significant time from his rivals in the time trial discipline, and then defend in the high mountains, often following wheels and purposfully marking his rivals. Indeed, Indurain was known as an exceedingly generous patron, willing to concede victories to rivals so they could bask in the glory of winning stages while he took the overall.

Evans is strickingly similar to Indurain. A good time trialist and capable climber, Evans too exhibits an easy going personality and pragmatic approach on the bike. He weighs each decision carefully, and is always careful not to go too deep into the red zone, hence preventing himself from losing spectacularly. Unfortunately, it is this pragmatic approach that keeps Evans from going on wild attacks to the delight of the crowd. Perhaps like former 5-time Tour winner Bernard Hinault, Evans is riding to win, not please the fans.

One thing is for sure thus far in the 2008 edition of the Tour: Cadel Evans hasn't made any mistakes, and is in the cat bird's seat heading into the meat of the Tour. The time he gained in yesterday's time trial will give him a buffer in the high mountains as he looks to limit his losses ahead of stage 20, the 53 kilometer time trial that may well decide the Tour. Cadel Evans is looking more and more each day like a patron, despite his alleged lack of panache. Somewhere, Indurain is smiling, as he admires his multiple grand tour trophies.