LE GRAND-BORNAND, France, July 19 AFP - Two years ago, Cadel Evans was preparing for the time trial that would change his life and, after two runner-up places, crown him Australia's first Tour de France champion.
On the eve of the 100th Tour's final mountain stage, Evans was heading for his worst finish as Briton Chris Froome began to imagine standing atop the podium in Paris.
Tipped as one of the men to challenge Team Sky leader Froome, Evans' campaign started in average fashion and the former world champion was well out of podium contention by the second week. By week three, the BMC team leader was already 6:54 off the pace.
Froome's own campaign has been boosted by the formidable pace-setting of Tasmanian climbing specialist Richie Porte, whose performances have reinforced opinions he could be Australia's next yellow jersey champion.
Evans is 36th overall at 1hr 13min behind Froome. Although there is a mountain-top finish on Saturday's 20th and second-last stage, he is focused solely on reaching Paris on Sunday.
"I don't expect any miracles and, really, I've come into this third week exhausted. At this point, I just hope I can finish and get to Paris," said the 2011 champion.
With five climbs on the menu, Friday's 19th stage was always going to challenge most of the peloton.
An already exhausted Evans did not consider trying an early breakaway. He quickly found himself among the early strugglers and in the company of Aussie veteran Stuart O'Grady.
As Porte's Sky team allowed a large breakaway to go up the road, and then controlled some soft attacks by Alberto Contador's Saxo team to defend Froome's 5min 11sec lead on the Spaniard, Evans spent the day climbing, descending and chatting.
"... It was not a good day to start tired or exhausted," said Evans.
"I found my rhythm with Stuart O'Grady actually, which was good company for a not so pleasant day. We rode all the way to the finish together in what was a group of 30 or so riders ... (but) certainly not the group I wanted to be finishing this kind of stage in."
Evans admitted several days ago his unplanned participation in the Giro d'Italia, where he finished third overall, had compromised his chances of a Tour de France top finish.
"I came to the race to compete and to perform well and obviously ... I'm not performing well so ... it's not very enjoyable," he said.
Questions might be asked over Evans' future as a Grand Tour rider but, until then, Australian fans will find comfort and excitement in Porte.
Paris-Nice champion Porte said: "I'd love to see Chris Froome win the Tour and we're one day away from that so we're not going to be complacent.
"But we are looking forward to finishing it off tomorrow."
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