WHENEVER an Australian performs brilliantly on the world sporting stage there is normally an upsurge in interest in that sport back home – the Socceroos making the World Cup finals and Matthew Mitchum snaring a diving gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics are examples.

However those upsurges should pale in comparison with what is already commencing in cycling circles following Cadel Evans' fantastic win in the 2011 Tour de France, the world's premier cycling event.

Local cycling clubs report fielding a host of phone calls as well as already signing up new members.

Jay Carney, the president of Brunswick Valley Cycling Group, which organises cycling tours around the Northern Rivers and Tweed, says that since the start of the Tour de France on July 2 he has been “pleasantly surprised” by the number of enquiries he has fielded from people interested in taking up or returning to cycling.

Mr Carney, who runs True Wheels Cycles in Mullumbimby with his partner, David Martin, says his telephone has been running hot with enquiries about cycling.

“We started getting about 15 or so calls a day, but that has gradually built up to about 50 since Cadel rode down the Champs Elysee on Sunday.

“For most of the people we talk to, the catalyst for them contacting us has been the magnificent scenery the cyclists rode through on their journey around France, Spain and Italy.

“Our mountains in the Northern Rivers and Tweed aren't as high as the Alps and Pyrenees but I assure our callers that the views are equally spectacular.”

President of Gold Coast Goldstar Cycling Club Andre Bonderson says his club had a 25% surge in new memberships after the great American cyclist Lance Armstrong competed in the 2010 Tour Down Under.

“I heard all clubs – both competitive and social – experienced a hefty increase in membership so I can't see any reason why that won't be the same this time,” Mr Bonderson said.