Chapeau, Cadel

Whaddaya know?  People can change.

The biggest knock against cycling’s perennial #2, Cadel Evans, is that he’s the ultimate wheelsucker.  He could hang with the heads of state on the steep slopes, but he lacked the panache of an attacker.  The only time he looked dominant was during Time Trials.

Well, as the final two stages of this years Dauphine showed, he is apparently a changed rider.  He attacked the race leader, Alejandro Valverde relentlessly – supposedly at least 15 times on one stage.  It’s good to see that an already top rider looked to change his tactics, not his biochemistry.  The old statement, “great isn’t good enough” fits well here.  However this time, the setting is strategy, not dope.

Good on ya, Cadel.  Those tactics should serve you well come July 4th.  That and a better team than last year.