Hope dies last

Cadel Evans has no choice but to change his style of racing and attack, writes Mile Tomalaris in Montpellier.

I can see the headlines now: "Cadel Evans blows it."

It's cruel and unfair but sadly there's a tinge of truth to it.

The sceptics will say it's all over. Indeed, it's do-or-die for Cadel!

That's what it's come to and the Tour de France is just four days old.

Full coverage at Cycling Central's 2009 Tour de France site.

Cadel has plummeted down the leaderboard after Silence-Lotto's disastrous showing in the team time trial.

Can he bounce back? I'd like to think so but he has to grow wings in order to make up the three minutes needed to catch Lance Armstrong.

Cadel may have the required wings and horsepower, but in his four previous Tour appearances, he's yet to show any real aggressive flair.

In that time he rarely exploded away from his rivals on the decisive mountain stages.

I feel it's time for Evans to change tactics and do away with the conservative style of racing we're used to seeing from Australia's great hope.

He has no choice but to attack, attack and attack again and he must start as early as the climb into Andorra in stage 7, if he's to reduce the three minute deficit on Lance Armstrong.

Luckily for Cadel, the race is still in its first week, so there is time and hope to catch the leaders.

While many choose to write of his chances, Cadel must fight like a tiger and prove to the doubters that he has winning qualities.

The time has come when he must produce the goods the same way Lance has done so since announcing his return to the world.