Fed Square sees yellow

This morning's ride to work started dark and misty, with a low fog blanketing the eastern suburbs. After a couple of hours at work I was back on the bike headed on a quest from the outer east to Federation Square to be a part of the festivities of welcoming Cadel Evans to Melbourne.

It was amazing! The crowd was huge!




MC for the event was Coodabeen Champion Ian Cover. Ian hosted a couple of interviews before Cadel's arrival at Fed Square as well as providing some amusing observations of the coverage as Cadel made his way down St Kilda Rd. Prior to that he chatted with Melbourne's Lord Mayor Robert Doyle, noted all the yellow in the crowd then pointed out that Doyle's tie was green - Doyle (who clearly spends a bit of time in the good paddock) threw back an off-the-cuff reply that it was because he was more of a sprinter. Doyle's timing was nothing short of brilliant!




Victoria's Premier Ted Baillieu called it a "Cadelebration" and made reference to "that Schlecking Time Trial". Another classic comment thrown in that made the presentation such a breath of fresh air. There seemed to be a euphoric air that even the pollies embraced rather than making speeches as though they were being judged for properness.

Watching the feed of Cadel setting off from outside the National Gallery you could see Cadel seemed incredibly humbled by the crowds that had lined St Kilda Road. He was then blown away by the masses that were assembled once he reached Federation Square. There were people jammed into any corner possible, and several big screens were keeping all in Fed Square and those on Birrarung Marr up to speed. At a prompt to shake everyone's hand Cadel joked that as much as he'd like to he only had 11 months before the tour started! His public interview on stage was excellent.




There have been many events I have thought wouldn't happen again so great to catch while they were in town, but this chance was something else. To me it was exclusive to all others by it's nature. It was the recognition of this one man's result that drew upon his 20 years of experience; to endure over 3 demanding weeks of calculated racing and then finish over and above the world's current greatest cyclists. Physically amazing and something no other Australian has been able to achieve.