Cadel Evans: a career in pictures

Evans enjoyed some early success in his road career, winning the 2001 Tour of Austria and claiming gold in the individual time trial at the 2002 Commonwealth Games.

Cadel Evans came from humble beginnings in rural Northern Territory to become Australia's greatest-ever cyclist and one of the nation's best sporting exports. Here is a look back on his career.

After a reasonably successful career as a mountain bike rider - including a 7th-place finish at the 2000 Sydney Olympics - Evans decided to switch to road cycling.

Evans flagged his Grand Tour ambitions in 2006, winning the Tour de Romandie and finishing fourth in Le Tour de France.

The 2007 Tour de France was a case of so close but so far for Evans. The Aussie made history by finishing second overall, an agonising 23 seconds behind winner Alberto Contador. With such a tight margin of victory, Evans was left to wonder what could have been as a celebrated on the Champs Elysees.

One of the favourites heading into the race, Evans appeared on track to challenge for the Tour de France title when he held the yellow jersey between stages 10 to 14. But he was destroyed by overall winner Carlos Sastre on the iconic Alpe d'Huez and finished second overall.

In 2009, Evans became the first Australian to win the road race world championship, claiming victory in Switzerland by 27 seconds.

Evans celebrated his world championship year with a stellar season, winning La Fleche Wallonne and wearing the leader's jersey in both the Giro and Le Tour.

In 2011, Evans provided Australia with one of its greatest sporting moments, winning Le Tour de France. Having given an early indication of his good form by winning Stage 4, Evans waited until the penultimate stage of the race - the time trial in Grenoble - to achieve his winning margin. He won the race by 94 seconds and a nation rejoiced.

Evans was genuinely stunned by the nationwide acclaim he received when he returned to Australia shortly after his Tour victory. Tens of thousands of fans packed in to Melbourne’s Federation Square to celebrate their hero, while a state reception was held in his honour. It capped off a breakthrough year which also included overall victory in the Tirreno–Adriatico and the Tour de Romandie

Evans was in great form early in the 2012 season, winning the Criterium International before grabbing third overall and the green jersey at the Criterium du Dauphine. But he failed to defend his Tour de France title, finishing seventh overall.

After Evans cut short his 2012 season due to fatigue, he returned to action with a bang in 2013, finishing third overall at the Giro d'Italia.

At 37-years-old, Evans is on track for another Grand Tour win after he grabbed the leader's pink jersey at the 2014 Giro d'Italia.