F EW athletes will reach their physical peak in their mid-30s but champion triathlete Craig Alexander was rewarded for his remarkable victory in the Hawaii Ironman by being named as the Sports Performer of the Year, presented by Colonial First State, in Sydney last night.

AUSTRALIAN great Robbie McEwen will try to kick-start his stalled cycling career at Tour Down Under in Adelaide in January.

IF ELITE cycling programs are adversely affected by recommendations in the Crawford report, the chief executive of Cycling Australia fears there will be flow-on effects at every level of the increasingly popular sport.

The panel does not believe that the medal count is an appropriate measure of Australian performance or that top five [Olympic finish] is a sensible target.

Olympic champion Samuel Sanchez climbs past the iconic Madonna del Ghisallo chapel.

Heinrich Haussler would rather skip the World Championships in Australia next year than ride for team Germany.

Road race world champion Cadel Evans is predicting bigger things for seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong in 2010 than he achieved in his comeback to professional cycling this season.

For example more government funds are provided for archery than for cricket, which has more than 100 times the number of participants Latest related coverage Sports stars fear funding cuts Video Cadel Evans, Steve Hooker and Dani Samuels talk at a recent sports event.

Title: Cadel Evans - Close to Flying Author: Rob Arnold, Cadel Evans Publisher: Hardie Grant Pages: 304 Strengths: very well written ; interesting sections from Chiara, mum, old coaches and other riders , gives a thorough picture of Cadel's early life, formative years as a cyclist and his family.

"Hola" may be the newest way Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School students greet each other next year.

Premier David Bartlett, today welcomed Australia's World Road Cycling Champion, Cadel Evans to Hobart.

Bobridge is in the running for the Male Track Cyclist of the Year award, while Meares is a chance in the Female Track Cyclist of the Year and 2009 People's Choice Cyclist of the Year sections.

As Vincenzo Nibali heads into his sixth year as a professional, the 24-year-old Italian believes 2010 could be a decisive season.

Australia Sports Performer of the Year Cadel Evans Nominated Nominations for Australia's most prestigious sporting awards - the Sports Performer of the Year proudly presented by Colonial First State have been announced for 2009.

Belgian Philippe Gilbert will skip the Tour de France again next season to give more attention to one-day races.

A successful season for New Zealand's Jack Bauer only got better at the Tour of Southland today, with the rider holding on to his overall lead at the Crown Range hilltop finish.

Cadel Evans will wear the rainbow jersey as the reigning world champion at the Tour Down Under.

Cadel Evans will continue his whirlwind tour of Australia in Perth, Western Australia on Friday where he is the honorary guest at the launch of two local International Cycling Union ranked races.

Respected Australian cycling coach Dave Sanders has often acted as sounding board for Cadel Evans but admits he was surprised by the world champion's choice of new professional team.

Cadel Evans abandoned Silence Lotto to join BMC Racing Team in a bid to strengthen his claim for a maiden Tour de France victory, but the wheels could fall off the twice runner-up's challenge before the race even starts.