CANBERRA, July 24 (Xinhua) -- The Victorian state government on Sunday said the Australia's state is planning a major celebration for Cadel Evans, who will soon become this year's Tour de France winner.
Evans will become the first Australian to win Tour de France when he finishes the race in the early hours of Monday morning.
After near misses in the 2007 and 2008 editions of the Tour, Evans' triumph is a massive moment for the sport in Australia.
According Victorian state Sports Minister Hugh Delahunty, discussions had already started about how Victorians could significantly remember Evans' historic achievement of becoming the first Australian to win the cycling event.
"Whether it be a celebration, obviously that will happen, whether it be a monument or whether it be some special naming, we've got a lot of ideas and we'd welcome others," Delahunty told ABC News on Sunday.
Delahunty said a parade through Melbourne was one option.
"All those things are being looked at ... we do that for the Grand Final of the AFL, but I think this is well above that," he said.
"I think we should look at all options and no doubt tomorrow (Monday) morning we'll have some discussions about it at the Cabinet meeting."
Victorian Institute of Sport Cycling Head Coach Dave Sanders said Evans' achievement was the equivalent of Australia winning the soccer World Cup.
"For this to happen, I'm making the statement it's the greatest individual achievement in Australian sporting history and I challenge anybody to put up something against it," he said.
Evans is not expected to return to Australia for a couple of months after the finish the Tour.
