What really happened, one year ago

Reports that Australian team leadership at last year’s Worlds was decided by a show of hands is complete invention and utter lie, writes Anthony Tan.

At the Tour de France this year, and in the past month or so, I've been asked a number of times about what actually happened in the Australian team meeting before last year's world championships in Mendrisio, Switzerland.

After the race on September 27, a Belgian newspaper reported that in the pre-race meeting, a show of hands would determine who would be the outright leader for Australia, and when the call was made for Cadel Evans, only one hand went up – which was said to be Cadel's.

"That [story] was absolute bullshit," Gerrans told the Sydney Morning Herald.

"We were shocked to hear it. It couldn't have been further from the truth. We sat down, had our team meeting and discussed tactics and who were the best chances."

I never took much notice of this report - certain parts of the Belgian media are known for their sensationalism to the point of complete fabrication – and I simply took it as another example of an article that had as much veracity as the claim that a bagful of 'frites and mayo' will aid your digestive system. (Although when in Belgium and Holland, it doesn't stop me from gorging myself on said food; I know it's bad for me and my intestinal tract.)

The way I understood it, and the way I've relayed the story to those who've asked, was that Evans and Gerrans were acknowledged as Australia's top-tier leaders, and therefore protected riders. And as invariably happens in a bike race, natural selection would determine who would be the best of our predetermined select few.

From an Australian team perspective, that's how I saw last year's Worlds eventuate, and ultimately won by the strongest of our two leaders; the strongest bar none.

"While Cadel and I were going for the win," said Gerrans, "we decided I would be the best [chance] to win but by natural selection he was good enough. I wasn't. We were equally protected. Cadel had the legs to finish it off. I didn't."

In the August 24 teleconference with chief national team selector Shayne Bannan, who was in the team car with Neil Stephens in Mendrisio and again will be on October 3 this year, the question was raised again: "Was the only person backing Cadel Evans, Cadel Evans himself?"

"That wasn't the case. We didn't do a show of hands," replied Bannan.

"There was a discussion that took place; people were given various roles. We knew, as we know going into Geelong this year, that these roles are dynamic, and things will change [throughout the race]. And we adapt to that."

Evans himself, who in the space of three months, has gone from saying "it's not a course for me" to "I think it'd be a mistake not to have me as a protected rider", accepts that in the times he's ridden for his country on the road, there has been no evidence of infighting or power struggles.

"What it comes down to in a race, whether it be Simon Gerrans or myself, or Allan Davis or Stuart O'Grady, it's up to us as leaders or co-leaders to say what's in the best interests of the team, and the team as a unit, what's in the best interest to get a result for the team and the country.

"In the past, I know with Allan Davis and Stuart O'Grady, that's never been a problem at other world championships that I've done with them," said Evans.

On the subject of controversies and conflicts of interest, does Bannan believe that Neil Stephen's customary role, as a sport director at Caisse d'Epargne, will compromise his ability to make the right call, should both Australian and Spanish rider/s find themselves in the winning move?

"Bottom line is, Neil is an Australian, he's a passionate Australian, and he makes decisions in the best interests of the Australians. I have no concerns about Neil's ability to make the right decisions."

So there you have it. Straight from the horses' mouths.