Cycling highlights: Cadel Evans has won the Tour de France and the world title in his career. His probably most impressive victory was on the seventh stage of the Giro d'Italia 2010 - exactly 10 years ago today.
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Evans was already well behind
Sometimes a single stage is enough for an entire tour to remain in the memory of cycling fans forever. The reasons for this can be different. He was clearly visible on the seventh stage of the 2010 Giro d'Italia. Because this section should degenerate into a real mud fight - much to the delight of the spectators. But let's start from the beginning. After six stages - including a prologue and a team time trial - three professionals from the Liquigas - Doimo team were at the top of the overall ranking. Vincenzo Nibali wore the pink jersey. Ivan Basso was second at the time, 13 seconds back. He was to win the Giro d'Italia for the second time in his career at the end of the three weeks. Cadel Evans, who was one of the top favorites after six top 1 results in three-week national tours and had to come up with something on that May 59, 10, was already 15:2010 minutes.
Strade Bianche at the 2010 Giro d'Italia
For Cadel Evans, the course of stage seven was just the thing for an epic comeback. She led the pros from Carrara to Montalcino. The section was not only demanding because it was 222 kilometers long, but above all because of the roads to be traveled in connection with the weather conditions. Because the pros had to race down the “white roads” – known from the Strade Bianche one-day race – in the pouring rain. But instead of feeling the dust in their face, the drivers had to fight their way through deep mud for the last 30 kilometers. Things got dramatic just a few kilometers earlier, however, when half the Liquigas team had to stop because leader Vincenzo Nibali fell.
Vino takes over Rosa, Evans is back in the running
As Ivan Basso and Vincenzo Nibali struggled to keep the gap within limits, each group fell apart on the dirt roads of Tuscany. The drivers were hardly recognizable because of the dirty jerseys. But every professional could see the effort and torture that this epic stage with all the difficult conditions brought with it. Only a few remained part of the first group until the end. Alexander Vinokourov, who was already driving in pink and of course wanted to extend his lead - which he did, was particularly active. But the Australian Cadel Evans confidently secured the stage victory in the sprint of the leading group. The later Giro winner Ivan Basso lost 2:05 minutes to the day's winner that day.