Cadel Lee Evans was born on the 14th February 1977 in Katherine, in the Northern Territory of Australia. He is a professional racing cyclist for UCI ProTeam BMC Racing Team. He has the highest Tour de France finishes for an Australian, coming second in 2007 and 2008.

He is married to Chiara Passerini, an Italian music teacher whom he met at the end of 2002 after an introduction from a friend of her father’s. Evans inherited his surname from his great-grandfather who hailed from Wales. He also believes his first name is of Welsh origin.

In 2008, Evans wore a cycling undershirt with the Flag of Tibet and supported freedom for Tibet.

He said; "Trying to bring awareness of the Tibet movement is something someone in my position can do. I just feel really sorry for them. They don’t harm anyone and they are getting their culture taken away from them. I don’t want to see a repeat of what happened to Aboriginal culture [in Australia] happen to another culture."

• Full name: Cadel Lee Evans
• Nickname(s): Cuddles
• Height: 5’9" (174 cm)
• Weight: 143 lbs (65 kg)

Cadel Evans edged defending champion Alberto Contador in a photo finish win on the fourth stage of the Tour de France, and Thor Hushovd retained the overall lead.

The mostly flat 172.5-kilometer (107-mile) course from Lorient to Mur-de-Bretagne with a short, steep uphill finish epitomized two race aspects so far: Evans has been nearly flawless, and Contador — who hasn’t — can never be ruled out.

The nail-biting finale was so close that Contador raised a fist to celebrate what the three-time Tour champ believed was his victory, but a photograph at the line showed Evans, an Australian two-time runner-up, had won.

Cadel Evans will be the first Australian to win the Tour de France. His immense courage and athleticism demonstrated in climbing the notorious Col de Galibier without help pulling the entire peleton with him to close the gap on Andy Schleck. He obliterated the advantage of brothers Andy and Frank Schleck in the individual time trial in Grenoble.