Australian Cadel Evans' hopes in Tour de France fades
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Australian Cadel Evans has seen his top-10 overall hopes in the Tour de France virtually slip from reach after he lost more time in the first of four stages in the Pyrenees, Australia's media reported on Monday.
Nursing a fractured left elbow from in a crash on stage eight, Evans finished the 184.5km-long 14th stage from Revel to Ax 3 Domaines on Sunday in 37th place at five minutes three seconds to French stage winner Christophe Riblon of Ag2r.
Evans is now 19th overall at 12 minutes 39 seconds to Tour leader Andy Schleck.
Australian Michael Rogers has fallen to 26th overall at 21 minutes 53 seconds after he placed 62nd on the stage at 15 minutes 14 seconds to Riblon.
Like so many in the peloton, Evans and Rogers lost contact with the group that included Schleck and a host of other top contenders on the first of two major climbs that highlighted the Pyrenean route, the 15.5km-long Porte de Pailheres that began 140km into the stage, Sydney Morning Herald reported on Monday.
After Rogers lost touch, Evans started to struggle and then dropped back and despite several attempts to rejoin, finally rode his own rhythm.
"I went into the day with all my options open, but saw that on the Pailheres ... I don't know what's the matter, but I was riding pretty badly and disappointingly," Evans told Herald.
"Getting dropped there wasn't optimal and with the head wind and everything you are certainly much better off being in the group going down the valley for the second climb [to the finish line]. But I did what I could and rode my own rhythm to the finish."
Looking to the 15th stage, 187.5km from Pamiers to Bagneres-de-Luchon on Monday, Evans said he expected much the same as what unfolded on stage 14.
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