Tour de Force!

As we are sure everyone knows by now, Cadel Evans has just become the first Australian to win the Tour de France.  As proud as we are of Canadian Ryder Hesjedal for the second top 20 finish in a row, we couldn't be happier for Cadel Evans!  He came back from what should have been an insurmountable time deficit to beat Andy Schleck in the individual time trial and blah, blah, blah.  The important thing is that there is talk of a national holiday! 

Cadel Evans in the Yellow Jersey (from couriermail.com.au)

Australia is a great place to live and work.  There is almost constant summer, the people are friendly with a terrific sense of humour...dripping with self-deprecation and sarcasm that can't be beat.  But there is an issue with the lack of public holidays.  There are 11 public holidays, including New Year's, Good Friday, Christams and Boxing Day, which are celebrated just about everywhere.  That leaves 7 days: Australia Day, Anzac Day, Easter Monday, Labour Day and the Queen's Birthday.  The 7th holiday is a state holiday, the Royal Queensland Show, which is an agricultural exhibition.  That is NOT enough statutory holidays!  Yes, it is the same number of public holidays as in Canada, but we just feel like there should be more.

So congratulations to Cadel Evans on his massive achievement of winning the Tour de France...and thanks for the hope of another holiday.  We need it!