Australia is in the grip of ‘yellow fever’, thanks to the Aussie who dared to dream.
He’s the sort of champion Aussies love to love. A humble man with a big heart, possessed with true grit and the quiet determination to never give up. For Cadel Evans, standing proud and teary-eyed on the podium in Paris – the first Australian to win cycling’s top prize, the Tour de France – this was the fulfilment of all his hopes. Spurred on by the love of his life, Chiara Passerini, and the tragic passing of Aldo Sassi, the coach who never stopped believing in him, Cadel knew his moment had come.
He’s an inspirational role model to us all, living proof that dreams do come true. “Better late than never,” he said in his quiet way, as he reached to feel the fibres of his much-yearned-for yellow jersey. He could barely believe, after being a runner-up twice (2007 and 2008), this golden symbol of victory was finally on his back. His Italian wife of almost four years, Chiara, standing amid the jubilant scene, summed it up beautifully. “Isn’t he gorgeous all in yellow?” she tweeted proudly.
Her man had just triumphed in one of the world’s toughest and most prestigious sporting events, riding a gruelling three weeks through the French Alps, covering a staggering 3600 kilometres. Ever since she met the calm and understated Australian in 2002, Chiara – a pianist, gospel choir singer and music teacher aged 28 – has been Cadel’s greatest champion. “I’m not a cycling fan but a Cadel fan. Come what may, I will love him unto my dying day,” Chiara told fans on her husband’s website.
A clearly overwhelmed Cadel, 34, watched his victory ceremony through a blur of tears, no doubt thinking of his loved ones – his beautiful Chiara, mum Helen and dad Paul, watching their son’s greatest moment on TV. However, it was when Tina Arena began to sing the Australian national anthem with gusto that his tears spilled over. “I was a bit surprised that Tina Arena came out to sing the anthem,” he says. “That was very nice of her.”
Read more about Cadel Evans and the love of his life Chiara Passerini in this week’s Woman’s Day, on sale August 1, 2011.
