Cadel Evans of Australia, who began his career racing mountain bikes, is the new world champion in the men's road race. This is a prestigious one-day race. The winner wears the rainbow jersey for the following year (except in time trials, where the time-trial world champion wears the rainbow jersey). Imagine racing at top speed for almost seven hours! In case you're wondering, there have been only three American winners of this race: Greg LeMond in 1983 and 1989 and Lance Armstrong in 1993. LeMond finished second in 1982 and 1985.
Addendum: Here is the final lap of today's race, which was held in Switzerland.
Addendum 2: The course consisted of 19 8½-mile laps, or 162.9 miles. Evans completed the course in 6:56:26, which is an average speed of 23.47 miles per hour.
Keith Burgess-Jackson, J.D., Ph.D. 