CADEL: Lungs on Legs - 10 out of 10
Presented by: Anant Das, Connor Delves & Ali Welburn
TICKETS: CADEL: Lungs on Legs | Adelaide Fringe
Cadel Evans AM is an Australian former professional racing
cyclist and four-time Olympian. He is one of only three non-Europeans, alongside
Greg LeMond and Egan Bernal, and the only Australian ever to have won the Tour
de France, claiming the title in 2011 while riding for BMC Racing Team.
This epic true story, co-written by Connor Delves and Steve
McMahon, and directed by Mark Barford (who also serves as dramaturg), charts
Evans’ journey from a two-year-old in outback Northern Territory to the
ultimate triumph on the roads of France. I entered this session with only a
passing awareness of Evans’ achievements, as “that guy who won the Tour de
France once, right?” but quickly discovered a story of resilience, discipline,
and sheer endurance that can be further explored should the production ever
evolve or expand.
Connor Delves powers through CADEL: Lungs on Legs with
sheer physical commitment and emotional grit. Across 70 minutes, he sweats,
spits, swaps bikes, drains many water bottles, and sustains impeccable energy.
By fortune, I was randomly selected for a “roadside” upgrade, seated on the
stage itself, which offered a rare and thrilling vantage point from within the
race’s unfolding drama.
Delves’ gruelling solo performance is anchored by vivid
storytelling, immersive design, live race commentary, and razor-sharp, perfect
precision in lighting and sound. The multimedia elements stand out – real race
footage, projected backdrops from specific years, and seamless transitions that
trace Evans’ evolving career. The stage is kept simple: a lino floor patterned
like asphalt and a small turntable podium fitted with a mechanism allowing
Delves to ride—really ride—for the entire show.
Special credit goes to Mecca Christy, the on-stage Assistant
Stage Manager and Featured Ensemble member. Her behind-the-scenes precision
keeps the production running flawlessly, managing on-stage costume changes,
replenishing the steady stream of water bottles and towels, and operating the
turntable at crucial moments. Her presence is understated but absolutely vital
to the production’s cohesion.
CADEL: Lungs on Legs is a powerful reminder that
determination and endurance—both physical and creative—are the engines behind
success. Just as Cadel Evans rode with relentless drive, this production races
forward with heart, vision, and authenticity. It’s an inspiring celebration of
an Australian sporting hero, brought vividly to life through sweat,
storytelling, and soul.
- Andrew Broadbent
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