A Custom Farewell for Cadel

Jan 19, 2015 – Cadel Evans of the BMC Racing Team will ride the final WorldTour event of his career – the Santos Tour Down Under – on a customized BMC teammachine SLR01 featuring Aboriginal tribal designs, the comic character Tintin, and various symbols that represent his professional cycling career and his personality.

BMC PR/Photos courtesy BMC

The bike was conceptualized, developed and painted at the Impec Advanced R&D lab at BMC Switzerland’s headquarters in Switzerland. While the colorways of his customized Tour Down Under bike primarily match his racing uniform (dominating red and black) the attention to detail is where the true story lies.

When presented with his new BMC, Evans said: “Even after 20 years of professional bike riding, I still love to get a new bike. It is like Christmas all over again, every time – hard to believe, but its true! However, throughout my whole time in cycling it has been about riding the bike. Having a special bike to ride here during my last week as a professional cyclist makes the event more special. The bike reflects my own upbringing. We are racing here in Australia and it is a very Australian thing, with a European influence and also Tintin on the top tube. I am very grateful for everything that the two wheels of a bike has given me. Something special is always motivating, it would be a pleasure to have it seen out in front. We shall see!.”

A Thank You Gift from BMC Switzerland and the BMC Racing Team, BMC Switzerland Chief Executive Officer David Zurcher said the company wanted to give Evans something extra special for the last racing days of his career. After Evans competes in his own event, the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race, he will become an ambassador for BMC Switzerland. “This Teammachine SLR01 is a gift, a thank you from BMC Switzerland and the BMC Racing Team for his contribution to the sport of professional cycling and to our company,” Zurcher said. “Cadel’s determination and dedication inspire us. It is an emotional time for this dearly loved, legendary athlete and riding on a personalized bike to commemorate this week at the Tour Down Under seemed very fitting.”

Key Bike Graphic Elements

Tintin on the top tube
As a young boy, Evans was fascinated with the comic character Tintin. According to him, Tintin is “the only cyclist who gets a framed picture on my bedroom wall.” The words “forever grateful” are written across the top tube as a token of gratitude to the world of cycling for all that it has given Evans throughout his career.

Aboriginal cave art on the rear stays
Evans identifies closely with the Aboriginal culture, as he grew up close to a settlement. Three tribal circles symbolize three principle phases of Cadel Evan’s life to date: 1. Discovering a passion for cycling during his youth. 2. Becoming a professional cyclist. 3. Beginning a new chapter in life after cycling.

Australian flag
The Australian flag is featured on both forks. Evans’s sense of national pride has always been very strong.

Yellow stripe on the down tube and rainbow stripes
Symbolizing Evan’s success on the world championship level (world road champion in Mendrisio, Switzerland in 2009) and at the Tour de France (2011).

SEE THE BIKE IN ACTION BELOW and 2015 World Tour Bikes Here