Cadel's countdown | Coffs Coast Cricket | Cricket in Coffs Coast

Cadel Evans

Wikimedia Commons/Gsl 2.0

THE countdown is on for Corindi cyclist Cadel Evans leading up to the Tour de France which begins on July 4.

And his family and the community are wondering, will this be his year?

Evans has placed second in the last two Tours, last year by the narrowest margin in the history of the event, only 16 seconds.

During his preparation for the race Evans ran second in the French road race, the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré earlier this month.

Evans' father and Upper Corindi resident Paul Evans has planned plenty of late-night SBS viewing during this year's Tour de France.

At the moment Evans is rated as the fourth favourite in the gruelling 21-day and 3500km race.

Mr Evans said the race is the pinnacle of road racing and was the one elusive goal that Evans has been chasing.

Despite hoping that 2009 would be his year, Mr Evans was concerned that the Belgian team Evans raced with, Silence Lotto, didn't have enough top ranking racers to get Evans over the line in the coveted first position.

“It is all he tried to do. It is the world stage in cycling and it means a lot to him,” Mr Evans said.

“It is a gut busting and gruelling event. He should have won it last year but he doesn't have the team behind him.

“But anything can happen.”