The target is the Maillot Jaune in Paris

27 July 2008 | 7:55 - Cadel Evans

Ever wondered what it's like to be the Tour de France favourite? Well Silence Lotto's Australian star Cadel Evans offers SBS his daily thoughts on his journey to Paris - and says he is already looking forward to next year's race.

Comments (634) | Your thoughts?

Stage 20

Well not quite the ride most were expecting me to have, and in the end, a long way off yellow. After a brief analysis of what I felt was a good ride, it looks like I was a bit more fatigued than most, possibly because of the crash in the first week, I could tough it out for two weeks, but the 'race of truth' brings out the whole truth.

Oh well, next year ... A huge thank you to EVERYONE who has supported me in these past days, weeks and years. There are so many people who have helped me along the way, from my osteo, team mates and team staff here to the people who drove me to races when I started 17 years ago - THANKYOU ALL!!!

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Stage 19

What many were expecting to be a relatively easy day turned out to be one of the fastest stages in years, and certainly not a flat one. With the combinations of teams not able to get into the breaks and then to chase like madmen made for a hard one. Chavanel making a very strong and well timed move saw him win deservedly.

Tomorrow? I am staying quiet for now - I need to save my energy!

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Stage 17

Whoa, tough day at the office today. Conceding time to a very strong Sastre, not an ideal situation, but it's not over yet.

A special huge THANKYOU to all the Aussies here on the mountain and throughout the stage. A pleasant and proud sight.

And now? Well, I preferred being 0'09 seconds down on yellow, rather than 1'34, but we'll see what happens in the next few days ...

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Stage 12

Another day at the office; ridiculously fast start, and an even faster dangerous finish. Crazy crosswinds, like the first few days made it just a 'little bit' nervous. I got through unscathed and out of the wind to see the back of Mark Cavendish show his class to win again.

Tomorrow, hopefully more of the same in terms of racing. Some of the sprinters are running out of opportunities, tomorrow maybe their second last.

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Stage 11

How is it in yellow? Pretty cool!

Stage? Up, down, left, right. Team looked after everything, break went, the boys rode - strong - tempo to the finish.

To all the aussies on the road, again, THANKYOU!

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Stage 10

Errr... much better than yesterday, physically and emotionally!

Started the stage stiff and sore, finished it feeling much better.

Just good enough in the final.

Now? Rest day, not usually very restful if you're good on GC.

We'll see, I have to get a lot treatment still.

À bientôt...

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Stage 9

In this sport, everything can change in a moment.

Just after the feed, an unavoidable crash happened right in front of me - so they say - I didn't see anything. The pictures tell the story.

For me, it was the shock/fear that worried me the most.

All things considered, my physio/osteo David Bombeke and team medico have patched me up and I am happy just to be able to start stage 10.

For the rest, we'll see.

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Stage 8

Normal crazy tour stage start to get into a break followed by a very wet chase into Toulouse for a 'sketchy' bunch finish.

Amazingly, everyone stayed upright around the last wet, slick, painted 100 degree turn to arrive cleanly.

Cavendish showed his talent to win convincingly against some much more experienced teams and riders.

And tomorrow? The first real mountains...

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Stage 7

A very intense 159 kilomtres of real Tour racing. Attacks, crosswinds, crashes, rain, wind. You name it, we experienced it today.

Fatigue finding it's way to a lot of riders also saw a few well behind.

For me, the boys had to work more than a bit at the start when Columbia started falling apart, unfortunately some of them only get on TV after their work is done and they've been dropped.

No problem, Leif and Dario put me into position for the first crucial split of the day. I didn't think it was particularly fair of CSC and Caisse d'Epargne to ride when Cunego had just crashed.

Popo and Mario put me where I needed to be for the second and final crucial split that lasted to the finish.

A very strong and well timed attack by Luis Leon Sanchez saw him take a deserving victory.

Tomorrow? I am guessing everyone is hoping for a calmer day. We'll see.

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Stage 6

Aigurande-Super Besse: not quite a mountain top finish, but uphill to say the least.

A bit of drama for me early on in the stage, having to change wheels twice, not such a big deal but when a moto gendarme hits the brakes in front of the car your following - in the wet - it gives you a scare.

Ok for them, with their generous rubber and disc brakes, but me behind with caliper brakes on wet carbon rims and 23mm tyres; stopping is difficult.

It's little things like that that can bring a premature end to your tour. I shared my feelings the gendarme - sorry - but when my tour hopes are put at risk, all of my 'good bloke principles' are quickly put aside.

Oh well, it gives a bit of interesting TV. I will have to explain it to my gendarme friend; 99% of the time, they do do a very good and I'm guessing thankless job.

In the final, all was good with Caisse d'Epargne pulling things together for Valverde, I was waiting for Alessandro to have one more hit after Riccó's attack but it seemed he ran out of legs.

Oh, well, that's racing. Third place for me.

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Stage 5

At 232km, the longest but certainly not the hardest stage of the tour.

The breakaway of three being caught in the final metres by what turned out to be a messy looking bunch sprint, with young Brit Cavendish winning.

Columbia have been very active as a team so far, so their work has paid big dividends.

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Stage 4

30km against the clock for our first 'real test'.

Schumacher had what I think was one of the rides of his life, his ride was exceptional. He deserves yellow for that one.

Kirchen was also surprisingly good, it will be interesting to see how he goes over the next three weeks.

For me, not my best day but I was happy to be in front (marginally) of the GC favourites. A good indication at this early stage of the race.

Tomorrow? The forecast looks favourable so surely a real field sprint.

And, to everyone with a boxing kangaroo, Australian or even Tibetan flag flying here in France - THANKYOU!

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Stage 3

Another day of dangerous nervous racing because of rain and wind.

Relatively flat roads for 208km would normally result in a bunch sprint, but a bit of disagreement and/or confusion amongst the sprinters teams meant the fugitives gamble paid big. Good for them.

Tomorrow, the first 'race of truth', it will be an interesting indicator for at least the first half of the Tour.

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Stage 2

Starting in Auray, Bretagne. It really is a nice pituresque region of France, well, from the peep I took out of the team bus on the way to the start line it's the impression I get. In these nervous stages, during the race, best to look only ahead.

Like yesterday, strong winds coming from every direction, makes sitting quietly and safely in the peleton nearly impossible. The last 15km being especially ridiculous in terms of speed (tailwind) I think I saw 82km/h on one particularly fast flat section.

And danger, all 180 riders want to be in the first 15 for the last 3km. Popo launched me up to the front and I stayed there to stay out of trouble.

Hushovd obviously in front of me taking the stage. He's a good bloke so if Robbie's not winning, I don't mind if Thor is. Robbie got caught behind the crash at 3km to go, so he did well to come back and get 17th.

Tomorrow? More of the same on paper, hopefully a bit safer.

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Stage 1

As expected, a very nervous start to the big one. Even more so with the 80km/h winds blowing us in all directions. One of those stages that you have pick your moments just to have a drink for fear of your front wheel being blown out of your hands.

A sketchy finish onto a dangerous final saw a few early attempts in the final kilometre.

I ended up a bit too far in front, when I tried to bridge to the three in front, Valverde jumped straight on my wheel, a perfect finish for him, I can only hope to beat him on a special day.

He punched by again (one big difference in a 'lactate' vs 'aerobic' climber - I can only go once) and took the stage and the jersey. I still have to see the results, but that is not a bad situation for us.

Tomorrow, hopefully, a less stressful and more controlled day for the pure sprinters.

Opening stage, one for the sprinters for sure. But of course everyone will be trying to be in the first breakaway of the Tour.

No time bonuses will increase rider’s motivation to be in a break, and make a break work. We’re hoping Robbie can repeat his magic from last year.

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On the eve of Le Tour

Tour time already? Time flies when you're busy.

It seems like only a short while ago I was visiting the physiotherapist for my daily sessions of ultrasound and being a bit worried.

Training, in the mountains and on the tour stages. Dauphine; a welcome back to the interesting end of competition. More Tour stage visits. More specific training in the mountains. All in-dispersed by long drives and brief visits home.

All in all, Dauphine was a good form finder. A bit of a look at how the others are going, both competitors and team mates. The training has been progressing since, and, as I  gather many will see, July could be very interesting.

Everyday leading up to July has a story behind it, for whatever funny, ridiculous or annoying events that occur when your running around bringing a Tour plan together. All the usual, traffic jams, mechanical problems, lost baggage etc...

If I may say a big thank you to everyone who has wished me luck for my upcoming lap of France.

A little (read; a lot of) luck is always necessary. And everyone who has given me a helping hand in getting ready for this July, whatever side of the world you're on, thank you too!

You know I will be giving my usual here in France.