Evans mystified as Schleck rides to stage win

Schleck, the runner-up the past two years, surprised all the favourites when he launched an attack halfway up the Col d'Izoard, with over 60 km still to race.

After building his own lead on the peloton, the Leopard-Trek rider eventually caught up with the last remnants of an early breakaway and went on to take his lead to over four minutes.

Despite Evans' 40-strong group chasing hard on the descent and in the wind-hit valley leading to the foot of the final, 22.8 km climb of the Galibier, their deficit refused to budge.

Evans said he had trouble understanding how Schleck and three other riders defied 40 desperate chasers.

"Just on a numbers basics, 20-30k block headwind, up a valley -- we are 40 (in the group) with one to nine guys riding at the front, and they are four riding at the front," said the Australian.

"They really rode fast at the front, I don't quite understand how they made so much time."

Evans soon realised that the efforts of his group were not going anywhere -- especially as the Europcar team of race leader Thomas Voeckler were doing the absolute minimum as the Frenchman struggled to survive.

"Euskaltel had the most riders at at one point with four guys and they were riding with three or others, but still losing time," added Evans.

"I had to put it on the line, but it was my tour to win and mine to lose.

"It's also a bit bizarre when Voeckler's team stops riding and he has the yellow jersey. They've ridden a lot all week, but he still had a team-mate in the end and just sort of looked at me to do the work, but I'm alone too."

By the time they started the climb to the Galibier Schleck still had a lead of over three minutes on Evans' rapidly dwindling chase group.

With 13 km from the top, Evans took over the chase by himself, with the rest of the field fighting to stay on his wheel.

It was a brave move and allowed Evans to finish only 2:15 behind Schleck. He is now fourth overall at 1:12 behind Voeckler and 57 and 04 seconds behind Andy and Frank Schleck respectively.

While reigning champion Alberto Contador struggled home at 3:50 to sit 4:44 behind Voeckler, Evans now faces a battle with the Schlecks on Friday's final mountain stage.

If he comes through that comparatively unscathed, his and Australia's maiden triumph on the race awaits after the penultimate stage time trial over 42.5 km in Grenoble on Saturday.

And according to BMC Racing Team President/General Manager Jim Ochowicz Evans remains well and truly in contention.

"It could have been a lot worse if he (Evans) had not taken the initiative," Ochowicz said.

"(Alberto) Contador was dropped, (Samuel) Sanchez was dropped. You don't get dropped if you're not using most everything that you've got. This race isn't over and we're still in contention and tomorrow is another day. It's going to be hard tomorrow.

"But we're going to be as competitive as we have been every day thus far in the race."