Evans, 2009 road race world champion, is on course for his first Grand Tour Cadel Evans is almost certain to become the first winner of the Tour France Australia after an impressive victory in the suburbs of Grenoble time trial.Evans recorded a time of 55 minutes 40 seconds to take the yellow jersey of Andy Schleck before ceremonial final stage on Sunday in Paris.
Tony Martin of Germany won the time trial of Evans, who moved to 1: 34 ahead of Schleck in the overall standings.
Schleck began the day with a 53-second overall advantage.
Luxembourgish are destined to a third place second row on the Tour after the assault that secured his victory in stage of the Galibier on Thursday appeared to catch up with him.
Evans, a runner-up in the overall standings in 2008 and 2009, was visibly emotional as he was presented with the yellow shirt.
In the absence of Alberto Contador in 2008, the Australian was widely expected to land his first Grand Tour title but was thwarted by Carlos Sastre.
Continue reading the main story Brian Kirkham was the first Australian to ride in the race in 1914Phil Anderson became the first non-European to wear the yellow in 1981Robbie McEwan has won 12 stages and three Australian Greens jerseysSix participate in the race for this year - Richie Porte, the Stuart or ' Grady, Simon Gerrans, Matthew Goss and Mark Renshaw are the others"Fortunately this year are close to Paris," Evans added after dramatic stage on Saturday.
"This is the result of much planning and experience." This is my seventh Tour of France and not having bad luck has been good for me.
"In 2008 suffered much with my injury was the tour more."
Latest Evans wore yellow after eight stages of the tour of last year, but his time in front of the camp lasted only one day and Schleck took over in the mountains.
Back on the floor in the decisive stage of this year, the time trial specialist, took ruthless revenge style.
34-Year-old removed soon the four seconds gap that had separated from the older brother of Frank Schleck before feeding to register a stage 2: 31 more than Andy.
The Schlecks has the small consolation of being the first set of brothers who on the same podium of the Tour of France after Frank successfully defended his third place in the overall standings.
But unless an accident of Freak or disease Evans, the 2009 road race world champion will be crowned winner of the Tour of France on Sunday.
The final 95 km in Paris is not traditionally contested by the belligerents in the overall standings as the sprinters center stage on the Champs-Elysées.
"Really I can not quite believe that right now." "I have been concentrating on this one long event", said Evans, who was seven seconds to decorate their success with a stage win.
Director of the Tour of France Christian Prudhomme said: "this is the victory of a complete runner." "It is the consecration of his career."
Thomas Voeckler, who held yellow 10 days before the Friday is the fourth in the overall standings after 13 the day with a typically gritty ride.
French is 37 seconds ahead of the accountant, who was third on the day, 1: 06 time stage winner of the Tony Martin.
After starting in wet conditions earlier in the day, Fabian Cancellara, world and Olympic time-trial and favorite champion of many people in the stage, was eighth fastest.
STAGE 20 RESULT:
1 Tony Martin (Germany / HTC - Highroad) 55 minutes 33 seconds
"2 Cadel Evans (Australia / BMC Racing) + 7"
"3 Alberto Contador (Spain / Saxo Bank) + 1: 06"
"4. Thomas Gendt (Belgium / Vacansoleil) + 1: 29"
"5. Richie Porte (Australia / Saxo Bank) + 1: 30"
"6 Jean Christophe Peraud (France / AG2R) + 1: 33"
"7 Samuel Sánchez (Spain / Euskaltel) + 1: 37"
"8. Fabian Cancellara (Switzerland / Leopard) + 1: 42"
"9 Peter Velits (Slovakia / HTC - Highroad) + 2: 03"
10 Rein Taaramaee (Estonia / Cofidis) at the same time
GENERAL CLASSIFICATION
Cadel Evans (Aus/BMC) 1 83 hours 45mins 20secs,
2 Andy Schleck (Lux/Leopard Trek) + 1: 34
3 Frank Schleck (Lux/Leopard Trek) + 2: 30
4 Thomas Voeckler (Fra/Europcar) + 3: 20
5 Alberto counter Velasco (Spa/Saxo Bank) + 3: 57
6 Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spa/Euskaltel-Euskadi) + 4.55
7 Damiano Cunego (Lampre/Ita) + 6: 05
8 Ivan Basso (Ita/Liquigas) + 7: 23
Danielson Thomas 9 (U.S.Garmin-Cervelo) + 8: 15
10 Jean-Christophe Peraud (Fra/AG2R) + 10: 11
没有评论:
发表评论