Cadel's custom BMC for the Tour Down Under

Cadel Evans's BMC team had a special surprise for him at the start of the Santos Tour Down Under.

Evans started the opening stage of the race on a brand new BMC SLR01 with a customised paint job to mark the end of his legendary cycling career.

The bike features aboriginal tribal designs - Evans grew up near an indigenous community in the Northern Territory.

Evans is also a big fan of the comics character Tintin, whose picture is also on the bike.

An Australian flag and the phrase "forever grateful" are other features, plus a gold stripe to commemorate his landmark 2009 world road championship.