Australians praise inspirational cycling great Evans

Political and sporting figures Friday praised Cadel Evans as a giant of Australian sport after the cycling great announced he was into the final months of his trailblazing racing career.
The 37-year-old said Thursday that he would put away his professional racing bike once and for all after the inaugural Cadel Evans Great Ocean race at home on February 1 next year.
Evans is one of the greatest road cyclists of his era, winning the World Championships road race in 2009 and becoming the first Australian champion of the Tour de France in 2011.
Among his other notable victories are the 2010 Fleche Wallonne, the Tour de Romandie in 2006 and 2011, the Tirreno-Adriatico in 2011 and the Criterium International a year later.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott, a keen lycra-clad cyclist, said Evans was an inspiration and Cycling Australia chief Malcolm Speed said he had left "an indelible mark on the world of cycling".
"I congratulate @CadelOfficial on a terrific cycling career -- you are an inspiration to all weekend warriors," Abbott said on social media.
Speed, the former international cricket boss and now president of Cycling Australia, recognised the significance of Evans’s career on Australian and world cycling.
"Significantly, Cadel hasn't just left a legacy for Australian cycling, he has left an indelible mark on the world of cycling," Speed said in a statement.
"Australia has a long and proud cycling history, but no one has had the sort of impact of Cadel.
"He's one of the select few Australian sports people to have transcended the sport, which was highlighted by the deserving reception he received at (Melbourne's) Federation Square following his historic Tour de France victory.
"The name of Cadel Evans is one that will forever be celebrated in Australian sport, just as Dawn Fraser, Sir Donald Bradman, Cathy Freeman and Rod Laver are," he added.
Australia's Olympic and world track champion Anna Meares tweeted: "May the celebrations be as great as the career he has had! Happy retirement to @CadelOfficial."
The Australian Olympic team also added its congratulations on a long and successful career, tweeting: "Thank you @CadelOfficial U have inspired millions over 20yrs & 4 Olympics. Keep fighting until Feb 2015."
Evans confirmed that before he retires he will contest Australia's Tour Down Under for a tenth and final time in January, before a swansong in his own Great Ocean Road Race, in his home state of Victoria.
Source: AFP