Cadel edged out in cycling farewell

Belgian Gianni Meersman beats home Australia's Simon Clarke in a sprint finish of the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race. Source: Stuart CAS Walmsley / News Corp Australia

CADEL Evans admitted to frustration after cramping in the last few hundred metres of his farewell race yesterday _ but he still retired on a high note with an impressive fifth place.

And the new international one-day event named after him - the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road race - was a huge success and now seems certain to become a permanent part of Victoria's major sport calendar.

Belgian star Gianni Meersman, 24, of the Extixx-Quick Step team, prevailed in a sprint finish over Australians Simon Clarke (Orica-GreenEDGE) and Nathan Haas (Cannondale-Garmin), England's Luke Rowe (SKY) and Evans.

Conditions weren't easy early for riders in the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race. Source: News Corp Australia

Evans was not far away - all were given the same time of four hours 15.22 minutes for the 173.9 journey, which was marred by persistent rain in the early stages, resulting in several multiple crashes.

Only 54 of the 115 starters made it to the finish but no-one was badly hurt.

"I'm frustrated I didn't go better in the sprint, to be honest," Evans, 37, said after bringing his 20 year career as a professional road race to an emotional close.

Julie Torney (Jan Juc), Jane Wright and Paul O'Driscoll (Anglesea) farewell the champ on the climb after Bells Beach. Source: News Corp Australia

"The competitive spirit is what drives me but I had to remind myself that it was also important to enjoy it."

Many thousands of spectators cheered Australia's only Tour de France winner and road race world champion along the route, especially when the race passed through beach resort Barwon Heads, where he has a home.

Evans, who was also an organiser and promoter, said it was an encouraging step towards the goal of establishing tyhe race as a part of the World Tour, the sport's most elite level.

Cadel and his BMC teammates travel through his home town of Barwon Heads. Picture: Glenn Ferguson Source: News Corp Australia

"The intensity of the racing - it was raced like a world championship - was incredible, so we'll see what the future holds," he said.

"I'd like to think it could be around for 20, 30 or 50 years."

Clarke's powerful performance was an ideal preparation for this week's Herald Sun Tour, in which he will be the defending champion.

It begins with a twilight prologue in the Southbank nightlife precinct on Wednesday and finishes at Arthurs Seat on the Mornington Peninsula on Sunday.

ron.reed@news.com.au

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