Impressive, well timed attack and victory for Aussie Cadel Evans

Oft maligned Cadel Evans secured the first ever World Championship Elite Men's Road Race title for his native Australia yesterday in Mendrisio, SUI. Evans used a timely attack on the last of 19 tough circuits to spring clear of silver and bronze medalists Alexander Kolobnev(RUS) and Joacuin Rodriguez(SPA). Evans then time trialed home to the finish as Fabian Cancellara(SUI) tried desperately to bring the race back together.

Cancellara had good reason to chase, he appeared to be the strongest rider in the group, first breaking the peloton into little pieces on the penultimate lap, and then, when all his teammates were used up, continually neutralizing every attempted move. That is, until Kolobnev broke free with Rodriguez and Evans. This time Spartacus had enough of pulling 10 favorites up to every move and he looked to Belgium and Italy for help. The only problem is that Phillipe Gilbert and Damiano Cunego were left isolated and in no way wished to assist the ultra-strong Swiss to the finish. That was the lucky hesitation Evans needed, and when he found himself noodling away from Kolobnev and Rodriguez just prior to the last climb, he punched it and never looked back, taking his most glorious win since joining the roadie peloton nearly a decade ago.

What went wrong for the big favorites Italy and Spain? Well, I was partly right in my predictions, Spain was a little splintered and frustrated in their efforts. Primarily, even though Spain had three riders up the road in a big 20 man chase, they still put three more on the front of the bunch. Why? Not sure about that one... Italy did have a great day but suffered when they had to do all of the work in the big chase of the day. With three in the counter, including last year's winner Alessandro Ballan, Italy was forced into an aggressive race, and they crumbled at crunch time. Specifically, on the last lap we saw Pippo Pozzato come to the fore with Ivan Basso. They set a furious tempo up the Acqua Fresca climb, but had nothing at the top when Cancellara put in another typical acceleration. Cunego was able to respond, but while Spain had three riders in the final 10, Cunego was isolated and out-gunned. Perhaps Pozzato himself would have been better in the final? I think it would have been better for Italy to keep Basso and Pippo for a little later in the final rather than spending them, but hindsight is 20-20.

In any case the World's is filled with 'what ifs', and suffice to say that Australia raced masterfully and had at least one representative for the team in the important moves as well as several workhorses like Stuart O'Grady. Congratulations to Australia and to Cadel Evans, an artful and inspirational ride, a career defining moment, and a big monkey lifted off the back of one of the toughest yet mis-understood riders on the planet.