Cadel Evans conjured one of Australia's greatest sporting achievements when he claimed the yellow jersey on the penultimate stage of the Tour de France with a blistering time trial. Twenty-four hours later he rolled into Paris without incident to be crowned 2011 Tour de France champion.

After fighting courageously in the Alps, Evans had the legs and the determination to ride away from the Schleck brothers. 

Starting the day trailing Andy Schleck by 57 seconds, the Australian produced a masterful performance in the 42.5km time trial in and around Grenoble to seize a one minute and 34 second advantage.

Evans finished second in the time trial, just seven seconds behind German Tony Martin with three-time champion Alberto Contador third.

The Australian poured praise on his coach Aldo Sassi, saying it was the Italian who inspired him to go on and create a defining moment in Australian sporting history.

"He who believed in me from October 2001 and never for one day (did) he doubted my abilities," an emotional Evans said.

"He never gave up in me through good and bad.

"I've had some bad moments in the last 10 years (but) that just makes the good moments even better."

The last stage to Paris is traditionally a procession for riders in the overall classification with the main action coming from the sprinters on the Champs Elysees.

"We've still got to cross the finish line in Paris," he said.

"That's my main focus right now, actually, getting through there without any trouble."

The 34-year, from Victoria, scorched around the undulating course in the heart of the French Alps. The Schleck brothers of Luxembourg were not match for his scintillating performance.

After near misses in the 2007 and 2008 editions of the Tour de France, Evans's triumph is a massive moment for the sport in Australia.

The victory makes the 34-year-old the oldest winner of the Tour in the 88 years since Henri Pelissier finished on top in 1923.

Such has been the dominance of Europeans at the Tour, Evans is only the third champion to have come from outside the continent's clutches.

Evans's performance also ticks one of the few remaining boxes on Australian sport's to-do list. The weight of the achievement must be considered up there with the nation's finest sporting moments such as Australia II winning the 1983 America's Cup in New York.

It completes a remarkable journey after growing up in the Northern Territory and almost being killed at the age of eight after being kicked in the head by a horse.

"I've had some bad moments in the last 10 years but that just makes the good moments even better."

Evans moved to Victoria in his teenage years and made his name as a mountain biker before transferring his talents to the road. He competed at the 1996, 2000 and 2008 Olympic Games.

After being less than a minute away in 2007 and 2008 from capturing cycling's holy grail, Evans struggled with favouritism in 2009. However only months after his disappointing 30th finish, he became the first Australian to win the men's road race world title.

He changed teams in late 2009 and went to BMC, a fractured elbow from a crash at last year's Tour ruining his chances of challenging the leaders.

On this year's tour, he has not had as much pressure on himself and stage 20 was the first day that he had worn the yellow jersey.

Evans ad been happy to mark his time before the time trial with spirited pursuits of lead groups in the final two mountain stages proving pivotal to his success.

Brian Kirkham was the first Australian to ride in the Tour in 1914 with the legendary Hubert Opperman participating for the first time in 1928. But it wasn't until 1981 that an Australian slipped on the yellow jersey for the first time in Phil Anderson.

Since then several Australians have worn the famous jersey but only Evans has threatened to climb to the top step on the Champs Elyses with it on. His dream was realised after stage 21 and 3,640kms.

AOC and AAP