Evans keeps attacking in Tour

15 Jul 2012, 8:16 am   -   Source: AAP
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Cadel Evans will not die wondering in the Tour de France and is hoping for a final week revival as he looks to defend his title.

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Cadel Evans tried his own mini-revolt against the established order on Bastille Day.

His succession of attacks on the third-category Mont Saint-Clair climb did not put Tour de France leader Brad Wiggins into any great difficulty, but they again showed he will not surrender his title without a fight.

Two days after he lost more than a minute to Wiggins in the Alps and dropped from second to fourth overall, Evans seemed to regain some form in stage 13.

While there were no changes to the overall standings, Evans efforts put some riders under pressure and helped fracture the peloton on what was supposed to be a straightforward transition stage in southern France.

"Hopefully, I'm on the way up in the last week," Evans said.

"I'm gonna try wherever I can (to take time)."

Evans' BMC team manager Jim Ochowicz said the worst thing they could do was to let Wiggins and his powerful Sky team dominate the race without any challenges.

"We have to keep testing, otherwise we lose," Ochowicz said.

"If we don't try sometimes, even through sometimes it might just not be the exact, perfect moment, you never know what can happen in these races."

Evans again paid credit to the work of his team-mates, particularly No.1 lieutenant George Hincapie.

He said Hincapie rode like "three and a half men, maybe four."

A big problem for Evans is that Wiggins also has great support, especially on the climbs.

Evans was asked if there might be some decisive attacks in stage 14, which features two category-one climbs after halfway and then a downhill run to the finish.

"Sky, their mode of defence is to ride regular and even if attacks go, they can take their time because they have numbers," Evans said.

"They can take their time and bring it back.

"These climbs are a long way from the finish and with the defence that Sky do, there's not a lot we can do and it closes the race down a lot."

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