A big difference for me is that Evans comes across as a very nice bloke, whilst Hamilton is an arrogant little ******

Of course, one is Australian and the other English.

Not at all - that's all in your head I'm afraid

There are plenty of arrogant Aussie sportsmen, and nice guy Pommy sportsmen

It's just the disgusting name you called him I guess, a word I have never ever used and I find abhorrent.

Are you talking to me?

Well I guess so, unless someone hacked your account.

'whilst Hamilton is an arrogant little ******'

Why didn't you quote me then?

It's hard to follow a conversation without quoting.

I'll try and dumb down

you're not trying hard enough

Well I certainly did not say he is a hero - but tell you what, his performance, especially on the last few stages of this year's Tour, was absolutely heroic. Average salaries for professional cyclists in the peloton range from $30k to $100k, only the very top ones (Evans / Cavendish / Contador) make over a million. It has taken Cadel Evans 20 years of hard graft to reach that elevated position. He has made it to the top through hard work, with no drug assistance. I would place cyclists closer to athletes in their motivation, not footballers and F1 drivers.

I would say that is a pretty good role model for the Australian youth, and should be celebrated. There are so many negative influences these days, we need to grasp hold of his , and others, examples to show the youngewr generation what can be achieved through hard work and dedication. A long serving police officer / teacher etc just will not cut it - unfortunately.

A lighthearted comment. You take things way too seriously. Similar comments are often made in the UK media when a British athlete does something very impressive. People find their heros in all sorts of unlikely people, it doesn't mean they are heroic in the definitive description. To a young person starting out in cycling competitions he would be their hero, to someone who enjoys watching someone with exceptional talent at their given career, he would be 'up there'.

OMG, I've never had anyone say I take things too seriously before

Credit where credit is due and Cadel played his cards well this year and avoided any dramas and put himself in a good position to win. But going back over the years Cadel has often come across as a bit of a whinger and blamed all and sundry for not winning the tour. Andy Schlek was very magnanimous in defeat and had no excuses and I would have loved to have seen him win after really going for it and attacking from 60ks out on the last 2 days in the mountain stages. But he will win and probably next year.

Absolutely, he won and good on him for that but when I hear him being referred to as a hero (NOT ON HERE) it just irks me when real heroes are often ignored.

There are lots of definitions of hero:

"any person, esp. a man, admired for qualities or achievements and regarded as an ideal or model"

That fits perfectly, but to me a real hero needs to have their priorities in the realms of humanity, not personal gain. Probably would have been easier to say 'I agree" !