Australia’s greatest ever rider told leading American cycling website cyclingnews.com he had three races left – all in Australia – including the Cycling Australia Road National Championships in January.

“My big goodbye will be in Australia,” he said.

“I’ll ride the national championships, the Tour Down Under and then the (inaugural) race in my name, the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Race on February 1. That’s when I’ll probably be really emotional.”

Evans’ comments came after he raced in Europe for the last time.

His result was irrelevant but emotion ran high when he finished 25th in the Tour of Lombardy in Italy on Monday night as Irishman Daniel Martin won the 260km one-day classic.

While Evans had a low-key day, riding in support of BMC team-mates, the 37-year-old was the centre of attention before and after the race.

The only Australian to win the Tour de France brought his son Robel to the start in Como and wrote “grazie” – thanks – on the tape that held the race radio microphone in his ear.

“I was there for Phil (Philippe Gilbert) and Samu (Sammy Sanchez) today,” Evans said on his website.

“Today (sic) it was important to be there for my leaders as best I could – as a professional that’s my job.

“Significantly though, today was my last big professional race in Europe, so it had quite a few emotions attached to it – particularly that my ‘little man’ could come to the sign on with me and experience that, and the overwhelming compliments I received from fans, members of the press and the race organisation.”

Evans’ ride at this year’s road nationals in Buninyong drew a crowd of unprecedented numbers.

More than 23,000 avid spectators – up 50 per cent from 2013 – crowded the slopes of Mount Buninyong to watch the champion do battle with favourites Simon Gerrans and Richie Porte.

Evans made his name as one of the world’s top cross-country mountain bikers before he switched to road racing after the Sydney Olympics.

He was runner-up twice at the Tour de France before confirming his greatness with the 2009 world road title.

But Evans elevated himself from cycling greatness to an Australian sporting legend in 2011 when he rode superbly to win the Tour de France.

melanie.whelan@fairfaxmedia.com.au

- With AAP