It was a chilly, rainy day in the middle of summer when some of the best cyclists in the world came to Alberta for a world-class bike race. Through it all, an ambitious Australian named Cadel Evans powered through the field for big victory.
Deja vu? That’s exactly what happened Saturday as the Tour of Alberta came to Black Diamond for its penultimate stage. Evans, a cagey veteran who has a Tour de France and a World Championship under his belt, outfoxed a breakaway group in the final metres of the stage to take the day’s victory. Evans, one of the biggest names in professional road cycling and a fan favourite thanks to his status as wily veteran, gave the inaugural Tour of Alberta a jolt just by showing up. Winning a stage was gravy.
Cadel Evans, right, crossed the finish line in first place followed closely by Simon Geschke in stage 4 Tour of Alberta on Saturday.
But that above sentence also applied way back in 1998, when Evans was a brash young mountain biker who cleaned up at the Grundig UCI World Cup race held in Canmore that year. I was a cub reporter in Canmore that day, and covering the event was a treat. Back then, Evans struck me more as a brash and ambitious up-and-comer, supreme in his confidence. I remember him nonchalantly straddling his bike while media swarmed around him, secure of his place in the world like only a 21-year-old could be.
These days, Evans has evolved into an elder statesman of the sport, respected everywhere for his accomplishments and gracious in his time. He’s been spotted everyday on the Tour of Alberta hobnobbing with fans, so it was fun to watch Evans take the victory Saturday.
Here’s a look back at Evans’ last victory in Alberta.
It was also a cold and rainy day back in 1998 when Evans won a World Cup mountain bike race in Canmore.
Check out the 1998-era suspension on Evans bike in Canmore.
Even Evans was a bit nostalgic about that on Twitter today.
Here’s a story about Saturday’s stage of the Tour of Alberta, and a photo gallery.
