Tour de France champion Cadel Evans has never been one to take the easy path in life.

But standing in a courtroom in southern Ethiopia alongside his wife Chiara last month, his emotions were all over the place.

After answering seven questions from a judge, the Evans were handed custody of one-year-old Robel who had been abandoned in the streets of Shashamane at just six months of age.

The cyclist’s head was still spinning at BMC’s season launch in Spain on Thursday.

“You come back from the courtroom in a taxi and this time you can walk out the door (of the childcare centre) with him,” Evans said.

“It is quite bizarre.”

The doting dad became emotional and his eyes went a little bloodshot talking about the happy conclusion following two years of trying to adopt a child.

“In the end you have your hearing with the judge and it takes about five minutes. The the paperwork is done and the child is now yours,” he said.

“It happens like (clicks his finger).

“It is a flood of emotions and it has been an amazing process.

“We are still learning about him.”

Evans said the 15-month old was learning to adjust from his old life in Ethiopia to his new family in the Swiss village of Stabio.

“After being abandoned at six months old to being in a home with heating, doctors and everything, it is a big change,” he said.