Yellow jersey will be cloak of gold for race king Cadel - Brisbane Times
Rupert Guinness Paris
FROM the moment Cadel Evans stepped down from the Tour de France podium as the winner in waiting, his life took a huge turn.
The 2009 world road champion is recognised in cycling as one of the biggest stars and he is understood to earn about 3 million a year ($3.97 million) with his BMC team. But the addition of a Tour title to his curriculum vitae could lift his market value more than $1 million a year to the 4 million mark.
His Australian agent, Jason Bakker, would not discuss details of Evans's salary. But Evans's stature in the sport as one who is a former world champion and winner of many other big races, fits in with the top tier of rider payments.
A trophy to hug Cadel Evans after the 20th stage. Photo: AP
The triple Tour champion, Spain's Alberto Contador, is understood to see Evans on about 5 million while off-contract Belgian star Philippe Gilbert is understood to be asking 3.9 million.
Bakker believes that Evans's value to potential sponsors in Australia could increase ''by about 500 per cent if not more''. Bakker has worked with AFL footballers and cricketers and has developed a small but growing stable of professional cyclists, such as Matt Goss and Jack Bobridge. He believes that Evans's Tour win ''places him on the top shelf of achievement in Australian sport. It's an iconic achievement''.
''With the growth of cycling and popularity of cycling in the corporate sector and mass participation, he hits a lot of markets and helps sponsors connect with those markets. Corporate sectors are learning how to connect with cycling commercially,'' Bakker told the Herald.
Evans, 34, has one more year on his contract with the American BMC team but has publicly stated that he would ride out his career with the squad.
''I would say that BMC and Cadel is the perfect fit. Why would you want to leave?'' Bakker said. ''You would hope [renegotiation] is a formality.''
With Evans's current deal absorbing all connections with the team's smaller sponsors, his portfolio of personal sponsorships in Australia is minimal.
Evans recently agreed to a sponsorship with the property website realestate.com.au and also has a sponsorship arrangement with Ernst&Young.
''As with cycling tradition, Cadel is highly connected to the team's partners, but we are looking to expand that and provide opportunities,'' Bakker said.
''Cadel is very selective with his partners. When Cadel wins the Tour there is a longevity to it. He is the first ever [Australian Tour winner].
''That can never be taken away from him. That's huge. He will now stay in Australian culture for good.''
Before Evans had even ridden his stage 20 time trial in Grenoble on Saturday, a stream of celebrity greetings and best wishes was coming his way.
By Saturday morning the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, had already asked to speak to Evans on the telephone on Sunday morning, and the Opposition Leader, Tony Abbott - himself a keen cyclist - had already sent a best wishes email to Evans. Many other messages had been received, too. Evans organises his own charity ride every year and supports a Tibetan child living in Nepal.
He should rank with Australia's best known personalities, Bakker said. ''This places him on the top shelf of achievement in sport,'' Bakker said. ''But Cadel is not a person that is motivated by fame and fortune. Equally, saying that, I believe he has that something. He desires everything that comes his way. I would like to think that will be the case.
''Having been the 2009 world champion and wearer for the next year of the prestigious rainbow jersey should provide him with some handy experience from which to draw from when it comes to the attention.
''Like the rainbow jersey. He knew the honour of it, the prestige of it and what he has to do to acknowledge that.''
Twitter: @rupertguinness
Click for more photos A historical look at the cycling career of Cadel Evans. From early family photos to his current Tour de France victory .
CADEL EVANS's triumph in becoming the first Australian winner of the Tour de France will rightly be celebrated in coming days and nights, but it will take some time for the real impact of his achievement on cycling in Australia to be clear.
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