Aussie's tour de force

Cadel, you bloody beauty!

Sorry, forgive my French (haha), and my coming flood of parochialism, but when Cadel Evans stood on the podium at Champs Elysees in that famous yellow jersey on Monday (China time), it was another sporting mountain climbed by the island nation of my birth.

The Tour de France title now assumes a place alongside the country's multiple cricket, rugby and field hockey world cup crowns, Olympic and world championship gold medals in track and field and swimming, numerous Davis Cups and, of course, the fabled America's Cup.