Capping off a stunning season which saw him win the Tour de France, Tirreno Adriatico and the Tour de Romandie, Cadel Evans has been awarded the prestigious Sir Hubert Opperman Medal at the Jayco 2011 Australian Cyclist of the Year Awards.
The 34 year old BMC Racing Team rider picked up his fourth success in the competition, following on from ‘Oppy’ wins in 2006, 2007 and 2009. He received the award today at Sydney’s Ivy Room, where he pipped the track rider Anna Meares, Australian road race champion Jack Bobridge and 4X World Cup series winner Jared Graves.
Evans’ victory is a popular one as it comes three and a half months after he became the first Australian rider ever to win the Tour de France. He took the title after remaining close to Andy Schleck in the mountains, then decisively beating the Luxembourg rider in the final time trial.
He became one of the oldest winners ever to take the Tour, and has said he is determined to return next year and try to successfully defend the title. He also picked up the SBS Cycling Central Elite Male Road Cyclist of the Year award.
Meares had a strong consolation after missing out on the Opperman medal, winning the Scody People's Choice Cyclist of the Year award. She won three gold medals at this year’s track World Championships and is looking like one of the top favourites heading towards next year’s Olympic Games.
The others in contention for the Sir Hubert Opperman medal won in other categories. Jack Bobridge was the Mavic Elite Male Track Cyclist of the Year, while Jared Graves picked up the prize for SBS Television Elite Male Mountain Bike Cyclist of the Year.
Cycling Australia pointed out how successful the season has been for the country. “Twenty eight reigning world champions were amongst the finalists for the awards after a record year of success for Australian cyclists,” it stated, a remarkable statistic.
The country is aiming to build on that success next year with the launch of the GreenEdge team, which is expected to be given important UCI ProTeam status later this month.
Jayco 2011 Australian Cyclist of the Year Awards
Sir Hubert Opperman Medal - 2011 Australian Cyclist of the Year - Cadel Evans
Scody 2011 People's Choice Cyclist of the Year - Anna Meares OAM ***
Mavic Elite Male Track Cyclist of the Year - Jack Bobridge **
Mavic Elite Female Track Cyclist of the Year - Anna Meares OAM ***
SBS Cycling Central Elite Male Road Cyclist of the Year - Cadel Evans
SBS Cycling Central Elite Female Road Cyclist of the Year - Shara Gillow
SBS Television Elite Male Mountain Bike Cyclist of the Year - Jared Graves
SBS Television Elite Female Mountain Bike Cyclist of the Year - Rebecca Henderson
Singapore Airlines Elite Male BMX Cyclist of the Year - Sam Willoughby
Singapore Airlines Elite Female BMX Cyclist of the Year - Caroline Buchanan
Jetset Glynde Elite Male Para-cyclist of the Year -Michael Gallagher OAM *
Jetset Glynde Elite Female Para-cyclist of the Year - Susan Powell ***
Jetset Glynde Male Masters Cyclist of the Year - David Stevens **
Jetset Glynde Female Masters Cyclist of the Year - Lise Benjamin *
Junior Male Track Cyclist of the Year - Jackson Law **
Junior Female Track Cyclist of the Year - Taylah Jennings **
Junior Male Road Cyclist of the Year - David Edwards
Junior Female Road Cyclist of the Year - Jessica Allen *
Junior Male Mountain Bike Cyclist of the Year - Troy Brosnan *
Junior Male BMX Cyclist of the Year - Darryn Goodwin *
Junior Female BMX Cyclist of the Year - Melinda McLeod **
Cycling Australia Coaching Award - Hilton Clarke
Coaching Program of the Year - Cycling Australia / Australian Institute of Sport High Performance - Men's Track Endurance
Cycling Australia Media Award - Ken Shipp, Head of Sport - SBS Television
Keith Esson Award - City of Ballarat
Cycling Australia National Road Series Champion Male
Cycling Australia National Road Series Champion Female - Grace Sulzberger
Cycling Australia National Road Series Champion Men's Team - Genesys Wealth Advisers
Cycling Australia National Road Series Champion Women's Team - Jayco VIS
Australian Club Premiers - Carnegie Caulfield Cycling Club
Norm Gailey Trophy for Champion State - New South Wales
Australian Sports Commission Volunteers of the Year Awards
+ Australian Capital Territory – Tim Ward
+ New South Wales – Meg Wilson
+ Northern Territory – Tim Ellison
+ Queensland – Gino Cornacchia
+ South Australia – Mike Harnett
+ Tasmania – Peter Fraser
+ Victoria – Shirley Amy
+ Western Australia – Henk Vogels
+ BMX Australia – Beverley Wensley
+ Mountain Bike Australia – Ray Rice