Cadel conquers Tour de Southbank

Tour de France champion Cadel Evans was welcomed home to Melbourne by a huge legion of fans, with a celebratory ride up St Kilda Rd.

Southbank was the perfect backdrop for the ride into Federation Square where Lord Mayor Robert Doyle suggested it was the biggest crowd he’d ever seen at the venue.

The planned 10-minute trip lasted almost 20, but none of the tens of thousands of fans seemed to mind.

The ride was lined by crowds five and six deep along both sides of the road – with an estimated 30,000 people cramming St Kilda Rd and Federation Square.

Evans, who changed travel plans to include a stopover in his hometown, relished the attention, shaking hands with as many people as he could along the route, and even hugging the one lucky familiar face.

Premier Ted Baillieu addressed the huge crowd, paying homage to Evans, saying: “We’ve been inspired by his courage, uplifted by his success and charmed by his humility.”