/ 3 August 2011

Tour winner Evans to get a hero’s welcome home

Cadel Evans is to make a flying visit to Australia next week to celebrate his Tour de France triumph with his compatriots.

The 34-year-old — who became the first Australian to win road cycling’s biggest prize July — will be paraded through the centre of Melbourne on Friday.

“Cycling fans, sporting enthusiasts and all proud Victorians will be able to come together in Melbourne’s CBD to celebrate and congratulate Cadel,” Ted Baillieu, the premier of the state of Victoria, said on Wednesday.

“Cadel is coming home especially for this event, which will include a short bike ride and a celebration at Federation Square where Victorians will have a wonderful opportunity to yell for Cadel.”

Evans had not been scheduled to return to Australia until the end of the year but said he was looking forward to picking up the celebrations after his triumph in Paris.

“Champagne does taste a wee bit better after you have crossed the line on the Champs [Elysees] in yellow,” he wrote on his official website.

“It looks like we will be coming to Australia for a very short time — it will be my first time home during the season for a while, other than for competition.” — Reuters