25 Nov 2009

World Champion Cadel Evans has been named the 2009 Australian Cyclist of the Year and received his third Sir Hubert Opperman 'Oppy' medal at the Jayco 2009 Australian Cyclist of the Year Awards staged tonight at Melbourne's Plaza Ballroom.

Evans is only the second cyclist in the 51 year history of the 'Oppy' to win it for a third time. He also won in 2006 and 2007. Peter Besanko was the recipient of the highest honour in Australian cycling in 1979, 1981 and 1984.

Evans was also named the Scody People's Choice Cyclist of the Year and the Cycling Central Elite Male Road Cyclist of the Year.

Evans this year posted his biggest ever result when he became the first Australian to win the elite men’s road race at the World Championships in Mendrisio, Switzerland. His season also saw him wear the leader’s jersey on stage nine of the Vuelta a España in which he finished third overall.

The finalists for the Sir Hubert Opperman medal were Cadel Evans; World Cup Series and World Champion Mountain Bike rider, Jared Graves and Cameron Meyer, who this year claimed the points race gold medal and two silver medals at the Track World Championships.

The complete list of award winners is below and for more detailed infomation on all the winners and finalists please go to the Cycling Australia website.

The Jayco 2009 Australian Cyclist of the Year Awards winners are:
• Sir Hubert Opperman Medal - 2009 Australian Cycist of the Year - Cadel Evans
• 2009 Scody People's Choice Cyclist of the Year - Cadel Evans
• Toshiba Elite Track Cyclists of the Year - Cameron Meyer & Anna Meares OAM
• Cycling Central Elite Road Cyclists of the Year - Cadel Evans & Ruth Corset
• Cycling Central Elite Mountain Bike Cyclists of the Year - Jared Graves & Caroline Buchanan
• Elite Male BMX Cyclists of the Year - Sam Willoughby & Caroline Buchanan
• Elite Male Para-cyclists of the Year - Michael Gallagher OAM & Susan Powell
• Malaysia Airlines Masters Cyclists of the Year - Graeme Allbon & Michelle Crawford
• Junior Track Cyclists of the Year -Michael Hepburn & Megan Dunn
• Junior Male Road Cyclists of the Year -Luke Durbridge & Kendelle Hodges
• Junior Male Mountain Bike Cyclists of the Year - Shaun O'Connor & Holly Baarspul
• Junior Male BMX Cyclists of the Year - Sam Willoughby & Lauren Reynolds
• SBS Television Coach of the Year - Matt Gilmore
• Australian Sports Commission Volunteers of the Year
o Jason Parkes ACT
o Michael Coffee NSW
o Stuart McDonell NT
o Merv McDonald OAM QLD
o Lee Hubbard SA
o David Buckingham TAS
o Brian Harwood VIC
o Murray Hall WA
o Frank Mitchell BMXA
• Cycling Australia Event Merit Award - UCI Masters Track Cycling World Championships 2007-2009
• National Road Series Champions
o Male - Will Clarke
o Female - Bronwyn Ryan
o Team - Fly V Australia
• Australian Club Premiership - Midlands Cycling Club WA
• Norm Gailey Trophy for Champion State- NSW
• Cycling Australia Media Awards - Keith Esson Regional Media Award- Jim Trail, ABC Radio Canberra
• Cycling Australia Media Awards - Best Photo - CJ Farquharson, womenscycling.net
• Cycling Australia Media Awards - Best Story - Mark Falahey, Michael Tomalaris & John Flynn, SBS Television