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Cadel Evans. Former Mountain Biker. 2011 Le Tour de France winner.

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Written by Charlton Durie

Cadel’s success at the Tour de France has propelled cycling into the hearts and minds of not only cycling fans, but every day Australians. The legacy which Cadel’s victory will leave, in all forms of bike riding, is unprecedented.

His trials and tribulations, and more importantly his success on the road, has been well documented. But it was the early years cruising around single tracks which earned him the nickname ‘The Lung’ and what many say propelled him to glory on the world stage.

Even back then, Cadel ‘The Lung’ Evans had a strong engine. His strength and power up the hills was his forte.

His former mentor and coach Damien Grundy, an Australian mountain bike legend in his own right, ‘discovered’ Cadel back in the early nineties. 

A gangly teenager, Evans was already raising eyebrows on the national circuit, taking out the national under 17 cross country crown back in 1993 at the tender age of 15. 

Recognising talent when he saw it, Grundy took him under his wing and the pair formed a formidable bond which remains just as strong to this day.

“Back then I was reaching the end of my own mountain bike career and had just started dabbling in coaching,” Grundy told the ABC.

“My wife Rachel and we were at a national round in Thredbo, sitting in our apartment and watching the young kids racing. 

“Rachel noticed Cadel fly by and said there’s the kid that comes in the shop all of the time. Back then I was a part owner at a bike shop in Eltham. 

“So I went up to introduce myself at end of the race and said if you’re interested in any help with your racing, let me know. The rest is history and I coached him for 10 to 12 years after that.”

As a member of the Australian Institute of Sport mountain bike squad, Evans tasted more success at the national level before venturing overseas, establishing himself as a world-class mountain biker.

Selected in his first Australian team in 1994, Evans picked up a silver medal on debut in the under 19 category at the world championships in Vail, USA.

He went on to compete at the next seven editions of the world championships, collecting three silver and two bronze medals.

A three-time Olympian, Evans competed at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and 2000 Sydney Olympics in mountain biking, placing ninth and seventh respectively in the cross country event.

“Right from the moment I started working with him, I knew there was something extraordinary about him,” continued Grundy.

“Even back then Cadel was focused and incredibly determined. He was always working to get the best possible performance out of himself.

“He’s so incredibly focused on what he wants to achieve, it’s not often he fails to achieve something he’s set out to do.

“He’s an extraordinary athlete and an extraordinary person.”

Like many young riders, Evans carefully juggled both road and mountain bike disciplines throughout the early stages of his career.

However his dream of making it as a world-class road cyclist was always at the back of his mind and in 2001 he was wooed to switch full-time to the road by Italian trade outfit Mapei-Quick Step. 

From there the rest is Australian sporting history.

“I couldn’t be prouder of him and what he’s achieved, I keep pinching myself,” concluded Grundy.

Cadel Evans – mountain biking career highlights

2001

2nd MTB World Cup XC AUT
2nd XC Australian MTB Titles QLD
3rd MTB World Cup XC CAN
3rd MTB World Cup XC Durango USA
4th XC World MTB Titles USA
7th Overall MTB World Cup Series
8th MTB World Cup ITA
13th MTB World Cup XC Napa USA
14th MTB World Cup XC BEL
15th MTB World Cup XC SUI

2000

1st MTB World Cup XC CAN
1st MTB World Cup XC CAN
2nd Swiss MTB Cup #4 SUI
3rd XC Australian MTB Titles QLD
7th XC Olympic Games AUS
8th Overall MTB World Cup XC Series
11th MTB World Cup XC ITA
13th XC World MTB Titles ESP
17th MTB World Cup XC Finals SUI
19th MTB World Cup XC GER 

1999

1st Overall MTB World Cup XC Series
1st Overall U23 MTB World Cup XC Series
1st MTB World Cup XC ESP
2nd U23 XC World MTB Titles SWE
2nd MTB World Cup XC USA
2nd MTB World Cup XC NSW
2nd MTB World Cup XC USA
2nd MTB World Cup XC CAN
3rd MTB World Cup XC Finals BEL
5th MTB World Cup XC, GBR
6th XC Oceania Titles AUS

1998

1st Overall Elite MTB World Cup XC Series
1st Overall U23 MTB World Cup XC Series
1st MTB World Cup XC POR
1st MTB World Cup XC CAN
1st MTB World Cup XC GBR
2nd MTB World Cup XC GER
3rd MTB World Cup XC Finals CAN
4th U23 XC World MTB Titles CAN
4th MTB World Cup XC HUN
5th MTB World Cup XC USA
6th MTB World Cup XC USA
14th Overall MTB Tour de France FRA

1997

1st MTB World Cup XC NZL
1st MTB World Cup XC USA
1st Elite XC Australian Titles ACT
1st Overall Australian MTB XC Series
2nd U23 XC World Titles SUI
2nd MTB World Cup XC GER
2nd MTB World Cup XC HUN
3rd Overall MTB World Cup XC Series
3rd Overall MTB Tour de France FRA
4th MTB World Cup XC USA
6th MTB World Cup XC USA
7th MTB World Cup XC BEL
9th MTB World Cup XC CAN 

1996

1st Elite XC Australian Titles NSW
1st Overall Australian MTB XC Series
3rd U23 XC World MTB Titles QLD
5th MTB World Cup XC USA
6th MTB World Cup XC FRA
8th Rd 3 NORBA XC Series USA
9th MTB XC Olympic Games USA
15th Overall MTB Tour de France FRA 

1995

2nd U19 XC Australian Titles NSW
2nd Overall Australian MTB XC Series
3rd U19 XC World MTB Titles GER
9th MTB World Cup XC USA 

1994

1st U19 XC Australian Titles
1st U19 XC US Titles USA
2nd U19 XC World Titles USA
5th MTB World Cup XC AUS 

1993 

1st U17 XC Australian Titles