Cadel Evans learned from Cycling news on Tuesday, the first Tour de France that Jai Hindley ever saw “live” took place in 2011, when Evans himself won. Thanks to this knowledge, the feeling that the older Australian “passed the Grand Tour torch” to his young compatriot Hindley, who won the overall title at the Giro d’Italia last Sunday, was even more strange.
“I think of all the things you do as an athlete – and maybe give trophies or financial rewards or whatever – seven years after my last professional race, the thing I value most about it is I hope I’m a good role model for my country. ” and beyond, ”said Cadel Evans, who led the Giro d’Italia in 2002 and again in 2010 and 2014. Cycling news.
“So hearing Jai says it gives me great satisfaction on a personal level now that I hear it.”
“And on the sidelines, in 2022, I jumped up and down on the couch doing what he was doing on Fededa, so I went to Verona to watch him in the final time trial.” Just like a fan and see him and for us [Australians] history is being made. “
The only downside to Evans’ impulsive drive to the finish line was that he couldn’t get to the Verona arena to see Hindley Don last. pink sweater and congratulate him personally because his pram was too big to be taken inside. Yet he was undoubtedly there in his mind.
“When you’re in a race with a one-year-old and a three-year-old, it’s not ideal,” he said. “I’d like to go inside and shake his hand and stuff, but my priority now is to be a dad.”
Looking ahead to Hindley’s hopes that one day he could follow the tracks of Evans’ wheels even closer and win the Tour de France (opens in a new tab)Evans said: “Winning the Giro is a great start and I wonder where he will get from here.
“The Tour de France is better known in Australia, it is more international there and it would be a logical step.
“But the point is that the Tour is a different race. The Gira track is more physically demanding and the level of the race is higher, as it has become more and more international in recent years, to the great delight of the Gira organizers.
“The tour is a different level, but I’ll repeat his words, never say never.”
However, Evans also pointed out that from now on Hindley would no longer be able to fly under the radar. “Entering as a favorite is another matter, and that applies to Bora-Hansgrohe as well as Jaie. But they have a really strong team, so it’s in their favor. “
In Hindley’s favor on the Tour, Evans agrees, his obvious ability to withstand pressure is evident. Hindley no doubt did it during Gira’s last week, when the difference between him and leading racer Richard Carapaz (Ineos Grenadiers) was only three seconds.
Instead of panicking and attacking too soon, as some people claim was Carapaz’s key mistake in the Turin stage, Hindley persevered and waited for his moment in the penultimate stage.
In his winning Tour de France, Evans scored an early victory for Mûr-de-Bretagne and said that Lennard Kämna’s victory in the first week of the stage for Bora-Hansgrohe helped Hindley’s GC as it put up pressure.
“It would be great especially for the team’s confidence. It’s a bit of a release of pressure, you just think ‘we can only ride now’. “
Although Carapaz has taken the lead on the Turin scene, Evans says it was a turning point for Hindley given Bora-Hansgrohe’s isolation of the new pink sweater. “They really hurt the Ineos, which was a great sign.” And well for them, they believed in their own chances.
“The way he and his team rode the race was definitely exceptional,” Evans said. “I have to say I’m happy that the Australian has won the Giro, but I’m happier to see the Australian. [winning] who consistently worked away for a long time and found a good team that perfectly supported him throughout the Giro. The way Kämna rode the Fededa when he returned to help Hindley was amazing.
“So there are all the ingredients. But I’m also happier to see a guy.” [win] who believed in himself, always worked hard, and after such a difficult year, he just fought and believed in himself. Because a lot of people forgot about him. ”
But after Sunday’s success, it will probably never happen again.
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