Thousands turn out to yell for Cadel

A far cry from the gruelling three-week tour, Evans pedalled slowly down St Kilda Road as he zig-zagged across the street, shaking hands with flag-waving fans lining the short route to a packed Federation Square.

Wearing his winner's yellow jersey, Evans signed autographs before he set off on his ride and thanked his fans.

"This is great, fantastic, everyone's missing out on school and work, right?" said the first Australian to win the tour.

"I'm very proud to be able to bring back this jersey and we can celebrate it together."

One of those who turned out, Steven from Warrandyte, described Evans as a legend of Australian sport "and a legend of his country".

"He deserves everything he gets," Steven said.

"In Europe he might be better known than he is here. But after this he'll be appreciated by Australians more and more."

Lee-Anne Bury, 17, from Glen Iris, said Evans "is a hero".

"There's so much bad news around; we should make the most of the good things," she said.

"What he has done in France makes him as much of a hero as any sporting person ever."Evans, who has a home at Barwon Heads, south of the city, ends his flying visit tomorrow, when he will return to Europe.

Evans received a huge ovation when he stepped on stage.

"I could say overwhelmed, but that'd be the understatement of this month at least," he said when asked how we felt about the reception.

He revelled in his St Kilda Rd ride and celebrating with the fans, but said he was already focused on defending his title next year.

"It was great to shake everyone's hands, but the tour is just 11 months away, I've got some work ahead," he said.

"Thank you, each and everyone of you, thank you, thank you so, so much. It's an honour to be here today.

"I feel that all this time, and it hasn't always been good for me particularly in the tour in the last six years but all that time I knew I had the nation behind me ... it's been a great ride and it's not over yet."

Evans said his life has changed since his triumph, but some things still stay the same.

"It still hurts to ride uphill," he said.

"I still ride every day when I have time, when I'm not on an aeroplane, but yeah, it's changed a little bit."

He told the crowd he felt honoured to be placed in the same category as Australian sporting greats like Don Bradman and Dawn Fraser.

But he was still motivated to achieve more, he said.

"For me still to become a professional cyclist and ride the Tour de France is an opportunity I don't want to take for granted while I'm still competitive.

"I've got a few good years left in me yet. I'm still young at heart and that's what matters the most."

When it was suggested he return for a similar victory celebration next year, he replied: "I'll do what I can."