Cadel Evans to cycling as Ian Botham to cricket

**www.d2ride.co.uk** · 19th July 2011

What is it now stage 16… look at the rankings.. Cadel Evans 3rd overall 6th on points and 5th in the mountains. Now that’s impressive….and if he had the support of a team like Europcar or Garmin!!!!!

Overall general classification: 1. Thomas Voeckler (Fra - Europcar) 65hrs 24mins 34secs, 2. Frank Schleck (Lux - Leopard-Trek) 1min 49secs, 3. Cadel Evans (Aus - BMC Racing) 2mins 6secs, 4. Andy Schleck (Lux - Leopard-Trek) 2mins 15secs, 5. Ivan Basso (Ita - Liquigas-Cannondale) 3mins 16secs, 6. Samuel Sanchez (Spa - Euskaltel-Euskadi) 3mins 44secs, 7. Alberto Contador (Spa) Saxo Bank-SunGard) 4mins, 8. Damiano Cunego (Ita - Lampre-ISD) 4mins 1secs, 9. Thomas Danielson (US - Garmin-Cervelo) 5mins 46secs, 10. Kevin de Weert (Bel -Quick Step) 6mins 18secs.

Points classification: 1. Mark Cavendish (GB - HTC-Highroad) 319 points, 2. Jose Joaquin Rojas (Spa - Movistar) 282pts, 3. Philippe Gilbert (Bel - Omega Pharma-Lotto) 248pts, 4. Thor Hushovd (Nor - Garmin-Cervelo) 192pts, 5. André Greipel (Ger - Omega Pharma-Lotto) 170pts, 6. Cadel Evans (Aus - BMC Racing) 159pts, 7. Tyler Farrar (US - Garmin-Cervelo) 141pts, 8. Mickaël Delage (Fra - FDJ) 122pts, 9. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor - Team Sky) 105pts, 10. Alessandro Petacchi (Ita - Lampre-ISD) 96pts.

Mountains classification: 1. Jelle Vanendert (Bel - Omega Pharma-Lotto) 74pts, 2. Samuel Sanchez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi) 72pts, 3. Jérémy Roy (Fra - FDJ) 45pts, 4. Andy Schleck (Lux - Leopard-Trek) 28pts, 5. Cadel Evans (Aus - BMC Racing) 26pts, 6. Frank Schleck (Lux - Leopard-Trek) 24pts, 7. Johnny Hoogerland (Hol - Vacansoleil-DCM) 22pts, 8. Sylvain Chavanel (Fra - Quick Step) 20pts, 9. Sandy Casar (Fra - FDJ) 19pts, 10. Geraint Thomas (GB - Team Sky) 18pts.

**Richard Hallett** · 19th July 2011

Europcar has IIRC the smallest budget on any team in the race and Cadel not only has George Hincapie looking after him but has had a clear run so far. What more does he want?

**puddings** · 19th July 2011

BMC is also ahead of Europcar in the standings (by one place but still ahead) as well as being one of the richest teams in the peleton (see the stories about potential big name signings for the future)
If you watched the first week or so BMC controlled a lot of the stages, riding on the front for Cadel, keeping him out of trouble (and leading to a number of the other teams suggesting that they were expending energy in the wrong place).
Yes Europcar have had Pierre Rolland by Tommy's side in the hills but as RH says having Big George as your road captain is a big plus for Cadel and he had Morabito with him for the early parts of the climb on saturday.

**coolboarder** · 19th July 2011

With respect to the OP I think you might have found that Beefy was higher up in the relevant rankings for both batting and bowling in his day (and for all I know fielding to make it a comparison of 3 disciplines) than Evans is in his in this tour. And maybe there is a touch of irony in that comparison considering he almost single handidly beat the Aussies in the 1981 ashes series (well him and Bob Willis).

**eliot coolican** · 19th July 2011

Me beloved sean(tm) said Booze-en Haargen three times in barely 20 seconds, oh the joy!. Cadels looking good, Conti put time into the schleks; glad i saw it live.

**eliot coolican** · 19th July 2011

Don't forget Graham Dilley's 50!

**puddings** · 19th July 2011

Strange, Conti gets good after the second rest day again - wonder if it was steak for tea again

**Kahuczek** · 20th July 2011

A blistering attack from the young accountant, and what a ride by Evans, this is good stuff ...

**Whiffy Smiffy** · 20th July 2011

excellent stage yesterday, even better that andy had a good old whinge at the end just because he cant go down hills! I've never really liked Cadel, but yesterday he was superb - didnt plan to attack but seized the opportunity when he got away with contador and sammy - should just get better from now on in as they all have to keep attacking.