Can Cadel take the top step of the podium in Paris?

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Cadel Evans (Predictor-Lotto) is hoping to make(Image credit: David Reinhardt)

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Australia's reputation on the international cycling scene has skyrocketed in the past 15 years, with the country now considered among the top cycling nations in the world, especially in the hyper-competitive area of men's road cycling. Despite its successes at almost all other levels and disciplines of the sport, one victory has eluded its riders: a Grand Tour victory. The Tour de France's maillot jaune has been worn by several Australian riders, most recently by a flying Brad McGee and a tenacious Stuart O'Grady. But to take the leader's jersey as the race hits the mountains and reaches its destination in Paris is another thing. The country's greatest road cyclist, Phil Anderson, came close twice during the '80s, finishing in fifth place in both 1982 and '85. However, Anderson did secure the maillot blanc of the race's leading 'young rider' in 1981.

More than two decades would pass before another rider matched Anderson's accomplishment, with Davitamon-Lotto's Cadel Evans finishing fifth in the general classification at last year's Tour. The 30 year-old Evans is currently on track to become the highest place finisher of all his countrymen at the world's most prestigious race, as he effectively holds second place on GC, but it's one position higher Evans is eyeing off.

"Back in London we had two goals," Predictor-Lotto team manager Marc Sergeant explained on Tuesday's rest day. "The first was to win a stage, which we did with Robbie [McEwen]. The second was to be on the podium in Paris with Cadel, and right at this moment he is in third place with five days to go. So we're on schedule. We're going to need to do everything we can to keep him there or maybe to improve."

Pulling back nearly two minutes on 24 year-old Contador will be no easy feat, especially as the youngster's American teammate Levi Leipheimer holds third place, allowing the pair to double up against Evans. But there are no more mountain stages for Disco to 'one-two' the solo Australian, as they did in stage 16. Further, Evans is determined to give the remaining 601 kilometres of the Tour de France everything he's got, and with compatriot McEwen out of the race his Belgian team's resources will be entirely dedicated to the general classification effort.

Evans is no stranger to taking a Grand Tour's leader's jersey when it counts. He won the maglia rosa of the 2002 Giro d'Italia on stage 16, the toughest stage of that year's Giro. It was a stunning accomplishment for the shy former mountain bike racer. The following day, Evans had a 'shocker' and cracked spectacularly on the tough ascent to the mountaintop finish at Folgaria Passo Coé, losing 15'00 to eventual race winner Paolo Savoldelli in the last nine kilometres. But unlike some recent performances, he didn't then come back in 'super-human' fashion; rather, he silently and stoically finished the Giro and won a legion of fans in Italy, who witnessed the humanity of an athlete blowing up but refusing to give in.

That incident on May 30, 2002, haunted Evans for years and it's likely to only strengthen his resolve to ride the time trial of his life this Saturday. In the first ITT of this year's Tour, Evans finished second to now-disgraced Alexandre Vinokourov, but he also came in 1.04 faster than Contador, who's known more for his climbing than his time trialing ability. Further, the parcours of this Saturday's 55.5km race against the clock is technical but quite flat, compared to the hilly profile of the first ITT. It is more likely to suit a rider of Evans' qualities, rather than the lighter Contador.

"Those two collaborated together to work against me," he said. "That scared me a bit. I also saw there were other riders there with teammates who I thought had an interest in racing to win as well. In the split second I had to make a decision - I banked on what I thought the other teams were there to do. Either they couldn't or they wouldn't [bring the pair back]. You can be sure there were a few words of fury yelled in the bus afterwards. Certainly nothing against my team, but the other teams and how they raced."

In addition to having every remaining Predictor-Lotto rider at his disposal for the final four stages, Evans also has the respect of big names within the professional peloton. It's unlikely the peloton would ride against an Evans victory. Indeed, if an informal popularity contest was held, the relatively quiet Australian may find a few more friends than the previously all-conquering Discovery Channel team.

It also helps to have big names come out on your side. One such rider is Belgian superstar Tom Boonen (Quick.Step-Innergetic), who named Evans as one of the riders he still trusts in the peloton. "I have given up my belief in most of the rest," the former world champion told Hln.be overnight. "It is possible to ride the Tour without doping and to ride and win, too. And Cadel Evans proves in my eyes that you could win it without doping."

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