An Aussie flag in the crowd in Federation Square(Image credit: Chris Putnam)
The Victorian Premier presents Evans w🎀ith a trophy(Image credit: Chris Putnam)
The Victorian Premier presents Evansꦛ with a trophy(Image credit: Chris Putnam)
One of the many fans in Federation Square(Image credit: Chris Putnam)
Evans' BMC Time 🐠Machine complete with a sprig of wattle(Image credit: Chris Putnam)
One of the many fans in Federation Square(Image credit: Chris Putnam)
The crowd at Federation Square(Image credit: Chris Putnam)
The crowd at Federation Square(Image credit: Chris Putnam)
The Tibetan and Australian flags in the crowd(Image credit: Chris Putnam)
One of the many home-made signs in the crowd(Image credit: Chris Putnam)
One of the many home-made signs in the crowd(Image credit: Chris Putnam)
The huge lunchtime crowd(Image credit: Chris Putnam)
Australia congratulates Cadel(Image credit: Chris Putnam)
Fans of Evans decked out in yellow(Image credit: Chris Putnam)
One of Cadel's many fans(Image credit: Chris Putnam)
Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle(Image credit: Chris Putnam)
Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle(Image credit: Chris Putnam)
Evans' BMC Time Machine complete wꦦith a sprig of wattle(Image credit: Chris Putnam)
A Tibetan flag in the crowd(Image credit: Chris Putnam)
The media presence at Federation Square(Image credit: Chris Putnam)
The massive crowd in Federation Square(Image credit: Chris Putnam)
Allez Cadel!(Image credit: Chris Putnam)
Some Cadel fans(Image credit: Chris Putnam)
Evans on the big screen at Federation Square(Image credit: Chris Putnam)
A sea of yellow for Evans(Image credit: Chris Putnam)
Cadel Evans on stage in Federation Square(Image credit: Chris Putnam)
A sea of yellow 'Yell for Cadel' flags iဣn Federation Square(Image credit: Chris Putnam)
Young and old were out in force to Yell for Cadel(Image credit: Chris Putnam)
Evans enters the preℱss conference with Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu(Image credit: Chris Putnam)
Evans' wife, Chiara Passerini was also enj🌼oying the festivities(Image credit: Chris Putnam)
Cadel Evans at the post-cel📖ebration press conference(Image credit: Chris Putnam)
Evans is congratulated by Victorian Premier T🐻ed Baill🍸ieu(Image credit: Chris Putnam)
A young fan cheers on Cadelꦯ Evans in Melbourne's Federation Square(Image credit: Chris Putnam)
The huge crowd in Federat🦄ion Square salute the achievements of 𒊎Cadel Evans(Image credit: Chris Putnam)
Tens of thousands of people, old and new to the world of cycling convened in the centre of Australia's southern capital, Melbourne, today to congratulate BMC's 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Cadel Evans on becoming the nation's first winner of the 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Tour de France.
Sporting his yellow jersey and full BMC team kit, with leg warmers to brace against the notorious Melbourne winter, Evans standing on stage in Federation༺ Square seemed genuinely surprised at the reception he received from 🥂the crowd, what Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu described as a "Cadelebration".
"I could say I'm overwhelmed but that would be the understatement of this month, 🅺at least," Evans said interviewed before for the crowd.
Asked ༒if the achievement of winning the Tour de France has changed him, Evans was self-de🔯precating.
"It still hurts to ride uphill," he chuckled. "I still ride every day when I'm not travelling around the world on a plane. Yes, certainly, it's changed a little bit."
Evans arrived back home on Thursday from Europe for a 70 hour trip dominated by media appearances and one very special "hug from mum". The 2009 World Champion said he was "happy to be able to give something back to everyone who's supported me and also honouredও for everyone who's been so appreciative of it [Tour de France victory]."
Not a centimetre of spare space was available in Melbourne's Federation Square over an hour before the 34-year-old was scheduled to make an appearance on stage at the public reception, the crowd waving a mixture of ‘Yell for Cadel' and Australian flags. Evans meantime got on his bike and rode a short distance down St Kilda Road towards the Square, opposite the famous Flinders Street Station, flanked by 20 junior Victorian cyclists randomly chosen from the field of 180 entered in the 2011 Victorian Junior Road Championships held in Wangaratta over the weekend. Evans shook hands with many members of the crowd as he could, much like the scenes on the Champs Elysees in July.
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Speaking on SBS television, Cycling Australia Chief Executive Graham Fre♕dericks said: "This is a fantastic turn out today and Cadel should be very proud of what he's achieved and these people are here to acknowledge that. We knew a few would turn up but this is just incredible, it's overwhelming – fantastic recognition for Cadel."
As a sports journalist and producer since 1997, Jane has covered Olympic and Commonwealth Games, rugby league, motorsportꦡ, cricket, surfing, triathlon, rugby union, and golf for print, radio, television and o💞nline. However her enduring passion has been cycling.
Jane is a former Australian Editor of Cyclingnews from 2011 t✤o 2013 and continues to freelance within the cycling industry.
