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Melbourne, Australia. Tour de France champion Cadel Evans returned to Australia on Thursday for his victory parade — and to a hug.

Evans, the first Australian — and only the third non-European — to win the most prestigious event in cycling, landed at Melbourne Airport ahead of a parade in his honor on Friday.

After what he described as a good July and a great Tour de France, Evans said he looked forward to celebrating his victory with everyone who had supported him.

“I’ve been working at the Tour de France for the best part of my whole life, and then when it all comes together, to have been supported all this way through and be able to bring the yellow jersey back to Australia, of course I’m proud to do it,” he said.

Evans and his wife, Chiara, planned to spend Thursday with family and friends, including Evans’ mother Helen Cocks.

“It’s always nice to come home and get a hug from your mum,” he said.

It has been weeks since Evans won the tour on July 24, but tens of thousands of fans are expected to watch him cycle a stretch of road in inner Melbourne on Friday, before addressing the crowd from the stage at downtown Federation Square.

When he’s not in Europe or competing in the ProTour, the 34-year-old lives in the coastal town of Barwon Heads — 100 kilometers south of Melbourne.

Evans said he had been inundated with messages of support from Australia since winning the Tour.

His victory has been described as the greatest individual sporting achievement in Australian history by local commentators, politicians and fellow athletes, but the cyclist brushed aside the plaudits.

“I don’t know if it’s the greatest, but it’s been something that I’ve worked hard on for so long,” said Evans, who was a runner-up twice before winning the Tour.

“I’m just happy that everyone enjoyed it, everyone enjoyed following it and seeing it,” he said. “It’s the culmination of many many years of work for a lot of people.”

Associated Press