Sydney - Bike rider Cadel Evans seemed as surprised as anyone when he won the World Road Racing Championship in Switzerland at the weekend. The Australian has a history of coming second - at the Commonwealth Games in 2002, twice in the Tour de France and three times in the Dauphine Libere stage race - and silver over gold has got to him.
"The world's been telling me for years I can't win big races, can't win one-day races, because my job is to win stage races," he said. "I have always believed in myself. I guess a few more people will believe in me now as well."
Evans, 32, took off on the final lap, staying away and finishing with a whopping 27-second margin for the 262-kilometre race. After almost seven hours in the saddle, he came home to win the precious rainbow jersey in spectacular style.
It was a victory reminiscent of Lance Armstrong's at the 1993 World Championship in Oslo when the brash 21-year-old Texan yelled in jubilation as he tore away from the pack and dashed for the line.
The replica go-for-broke attack answered criticism that Evans is too ready to follow a wheel, too reluctant to get to the front and set the pace.
It was as if Evans had finally heeded the advice of the fan who chided him for being risk-averse after his second runner-up finish at the 2008 Tour de France.
"It seems churlish to criticize a rider for being smart and making the most of his ability, but I won't let that stop me!" the fan had said in a message posted on a cycling website. "For ****s sake, have a go for once in your life, Evans. You may lose the tour, but you might get some fans!"
Evans redeemed himself at the weekend and won over the fans with a courageous ride. Melbourne's Ray Walker spoke for many when he said of Evans: "You have shown that with hard work, talent, persistence and never losing faith that things will turn. You are an inspiration to us all, mate."
The famous victory turned a dreadful year into a memorable one. Evans finished the Tour de France in 30th place. In Spain's Vuelta, where early on he looked set to atone for his failure in France, Evans punctured on a critical climb and ended in third place.
"Winning the rainbow jersey was the only thing that could have happened for me to come out of the year and say I had a good season," he said.
Cycling commentators are wondering whether the jersey will transform Evans. His physical abilities have never been in doubt but psychologically he has shown himself to be fragile.
Evans doesn't hold his emotions in check. As well as tears of joy at the weekend, he anguished at having missed a chance to win the Vuelta.
Critics argue that his petulance and his inability to keep his thoughts to himself have undermined his performance. Cycling is a team sport and they claim Evans is neither a good team player nor a good team leader.
"He doesn't do himself any favours when he talks about the tactics of the other riders or talks about the lack of strength in his team," cycling commentator Scott McGrory said. "If it were such a big issue for Cadel then he probably would have changed teams and found somewhere else that gives him more support. He hasn't done that so he can't blame his team too much."
McGrory, and many other Australians, will be hoping that the rainbow jersey will be the making of Evans, that it will instill mental toughness and greater self-confidence. Other riders will certainly give him more respect.
