Australia's Cadel Evans crosses the finishing line alone for the world championship title Sunday. AP photo.

Cadel Evans didn’t have bad luck or bad teammates or a bad frame of mind, so he avoided the pitfalls that had swallowed him in every other big race this season and won the world championship road race Sunday.

Evans had a terrible time at the Tour de France,  where he was demoralized when his Silence-Lotto teammates offered no support. He was in the contention at the Vuelta until an ill-timed puncture on a climb forced him from the leading group and out of contention for the victory. But Sunday, he had the form to ride away from the Spanish and Italian riders who swarmed him. He also timed his move effectively to elude Fabian Cancellara, winner of the world time trial championship on Friday.

A solo victory suits him. He’s a bit of a prickly pear with the media and race officials. Interesting that Mick Rogers’ twitter site has a picture of the Aussies celebrating, but you can’t find Evans in the picture.