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Last Update: Sunday, July 16, 2006. 11:27am AEST

Cadel Evans says the hard work is just beginning. (AFP)

Evans looking ahead to lonely alpine rides

As far as prospects go, racing for three consecutive days on the Tour de France's legendary alpine Cols without team-mates to help stave off attacks is not so enticing.

But that is exactly what lies ahead for Australian Cadel Evans, and a few of his main rivals for the race's yellow jersey in the days ahead.

The Davitamon rider, who was one of the race's top draws during two tough days in the Pyrenees, moved down to fifth place in the race's general classification after the undulating 13th stage on which the lead changed hands.

An unexpected guest, Spaniard Oscar Pereiro, crashed the yellow jersey party after he finished second in a two-man sprint for the finish with Germany's Jens Voigt to take the race lead.

The peloton, which included Evans and Phonak's overnight leader Floyd Landis, ambled in as if they were out for a Sunday ride.

Caisse d'Epargne rider Pereiro will begin tonight's transitional 14th stage with a 1:29 lead over Landis in the general classification after the breakaway he was in built a maximum lead of 29 minutes, 57 seconds on the bunch.

Evans, who like most teams does not have a bunch of dedicated climbers to boost his victory bid, looked battered and bruised as he made his way into the team bus on Saturday.

And he agreed that the day's proceedings had been largely orchestrated by Phonak in a bid to take the pressure off them in the coming days.

"I don't know if they gave it (the yellow jersey) up easily. I think they gave it up by choice. It's a long way to Paris," he said.

Given he had started the day with a 28:50 deficit on Landis, 28-year-old Pereiro knows his ride could lead to a third successive top 10 finish in the general classification.

However with Landis at just 1:29 and a few others - including Evans, who is at 2:46 - tugging at his coat tails, Pereiro is under no illusions.

He admitted the strategy of Phonak - a team he was still in until last year - was well planned.

"I think what they did was normal. They didn't want the weight of having to chase all day," he said.

"I want to enjoy my time in yellow, but I have to keep my feet on the ground. I'm sure that when Floyd (Landis) decides he wants to take the jersey back he will."

Men to beat

After the tough Pyrenean stages, Landis and Menchov have emerged as the men to beat.

However most followers of the race, which before the start was shorn of the five top finishers from last year, will agree it could go anybody's way.

Menchov showed his mountain climbing prowess with victory on the sixth Col of the day on the punishing 11th stage.

The Russian leads Evans, Spaniard Carlos Sastre, Andreas Kloden and Australian Michael Rogers in the stakes to challenge Landis.

For the moment, the American appears to be everyone's favourite.

In the meantime, Phonak team manager John Lelangue is certain Pereiro does not pose a threat.

"We know what Pereiro's abilities are and we know what he's like in the mountains," said Lelangue, who defended his team's strategy of not using precious energy chasing the leaders.

"For me one or two minutes was acceptable as a deficit. We knew we could let a breakaway go and allow them to finish with a lead of up to 30 minutes on us.

"You could compare it to a football coach who sends out a second string side ahead of a more important match. That's what we did today.

"I only need the yellow jersey in Paris on the 23rd (of July). What comes before then are just some stages."

Evans admitted the hard work, however, was just beginning.

"At this point I'm happy where I am in the general classification. We still have a long way to race," he said.

"I don't have any guys for the mountains, but there's no really strong teams in the mountains this year."

-AFP

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