Capping off a stunning season which saw him win the Tour de France, Tirreno Adriatico and the Tour de Romandie, Cadel Evans has been awarded the prestigious Sir Hubert Opperman Medal at the Jayco 2011 Australian Cyclist of the Year Awards.
The 34 year old BMC Racing Team rider picked up his fourth success in the competition, following on from ‘Oppy’ wins in 2006, 2007 and 2009. He received the award today at Sydney’s Ivy Room, where he pipped the track rider Anna Meares, Australian road race champion Jack Bobridge and 4X World Cup series winner Jared Graves.
Evans’ victory is a popular one as it comes three and a half months after he became the first Australian rider ever to win the Tour de France. He took the title after remaining close to Andy Schleck in the mountains, then decisively beating the Luxembourg rider in the final time trial.
He became one of the oldest winners ever to take the Tour, and has said he is determined to return next year and try to successfully defend the title. He also picked up the SBS Cycling Central Elite Male Road Cyclist of the Year award.
Meares had a strong consolation after missing out on the Opperman medal, winning the Scody People's Choice Cyclist of the Year award. She won three gold medals at this year’s track World Championships and is looking like one of the top favourites heading towards next year’s Olympic Games.
The others in contention for the Sir Hubert Opperman medal won in other categories. Jack Bobridge was the Mavic Elite Male Track Cyclist of the Year, while Jared Graves picked up the prize for SBS Television Elite Male Mountain Bike Cyclist of the Year.
Cycling Australia pointed out how successful the season has been for the country. “Twenty eight reigning world champions were amongst the finalists for the awards after a record year of success for Australian cyclists,” it stated, a remarkable statistic. The country is aiming to build on that success next year with the launch of the GreenEdge team, which is expected to be given important UCI ProTeam status later this month.