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With fans and competitors alike praising Cadel Evans, there is no doubt he is an inspirational athlete on the global stage.
But Evans’ influence may reach a lot further afield than even he realises, with travel experts crediting him for a rise in cycling holidays.
Dubbed The Cadel Effect, this trend sees travellers ditching relaxation and luxury for a healthier way to see Europe by literally following in Cadel Evans’ tyre tracks.
As The Herald Sun recently reported, “If there’s one thing that enhances the appeal of the picturesque Italian countryside, it’s an Australian sitting at the lead of the country’s most famous bike race.”
It’s not just his most recent accolades that have inspired this travel trend either, with reports that his Tour de France win in 2011 had a similar effect after marking him out as an international cycling legend.
At the time, only two other non-European cyclists had ever won the Tour de France – Americans Lance Armstrong and Floyd Landis – and both have since been disqualified from the title due to doping controversies.
Evans, on the other hand, has been clear about his commitment to the sport, actively promoting it when he can, both locally and internationally. His interviews are characterised by passion for cycling and it’s reflected in the successes he sees in competition.
Packaging and Pricing Experiences
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According to specialist travel agency UTracks, it is no surprise Evans’ continued achievements are good for their business.
“The success of Cadel Evans in the Tour de France and now Giro d’Italia has had a very positive effect for businesses like ours,” the company’s general manager, Kate Baker, said in an interview with The Herald Sun.
“We’ve seen a direct correlation between Cadel’s performance and a surge in inquiries about our cycling trips in first France and now Italy.”
While UTrack has long specialised in a range of adventure-based tour options (including cycling, sailing, walking and combination packages), the so-called Cadel Effect could lead to more tour agencies promoting cycling options as they race to cash in on this trend.
Indeed, a quick search for “Europe cycling tours” brings up pages of travel companies promoting different packages and deals for both novice and experienced riders.
But it’s not just Evans and cycling that is seeing increased interest. The latest travel industry conferences and reports suggest adventure holidays are on the rise across the board.
“Gone are the days when holidays consisted of lying on the beach or having a mosey round the local sights. Now, people want more thrills and more excitement…That’s where activity holidays come in,” the UK’s Smart Traveller website says.
It attributes the rise in adventure and experience holidays to factors including more variety in travel options, interest in learning new skills, customised travel packages, busier lifestyles and increasing work pressure.
“Many people only get a few days’ holiday each year and would rather spend it doing something thrilling, rather than lying about all day – which they could easily do at home,” Smart Traveller explains.
“The world’s ever-increasing commitment to living a healthy lifestyle has also played a part. More people want to live clean, healthy lives – even whilst on holiday – so combining a period of relaxation with some exercise (albeit of a slightly more exciting variety) has become a great temptation.”
Meanwhile, the last International Luxury Travel Market in Cannes – held in December 2013 – said this year’s range of sporting events was bound to lead to a rise in sport-inspired holidays.
“Annual events such as Wimbledon, the Monaco Grand Prix, the New York marathon, Masters Golf, Test cricket and the Tour de France are increasingly becoming focal points for travel, with a surge in the more actively inclined seeking endurance sport packages,” Australian journalist Lee Tulloch reported at the time.
The Rise Of Cycling
Cycling holidays, in particular, are appealing because people can train for them or incorporate the sport into daily life. And as more people become health conscious, cycling (and bike riding in general) is also growing in popularity around the world.
In the US, for example, the Census Bureau reports that the number of Americans who biked to work increased to by 61% from 2000 to 2012.
Locally, the Bicycle NSW has reported an increase in bike sales particularly around the time of prominent events like the Tour de France.
Although sceptics say the increase in population suggests an overall decline in Australian cyclists for the same time period, the growing number of bike paths and tracks in both metropolitan and regional areas has made sport and recreational cycling even more prominent.
But research and anecdotes aside, sportspeople like Cadel Evans frequently make the headlines. So regardless of whether or not the “Cadel Effect” leads to a spike in bike-riding holidays, it is definitely a sign that his work is inspiring.
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