Cadel Evans' teammates back him to lift

AMERICAN Tejay Van Garderen says BMC team-mate Cadel Evans is on track for another Tour de France win despite his prologue setback.

AMERICAN Tejay Van Garderen says BMC team-mate Cadel Evans is on track for another Tour de France win despite the prologue setback.

Van Garderen, a brilliant fourth in the prologue behind Fabian Cancellara, Bradley Wiggins and Sylvain Chavanel,

believes Evans is peaking at the right time.

"Cadel is flying right now and I think today I proved I can be right there to support him," Van Garderen said.

"My form is on schedule to help Cadel in the mountains and throughout the rest of the Tour.

"We have full confidence. He's had a bit of a struggle here and there this year, but overall he has three wins under his belt and another podium at the Dauphine.

"His form is coming in right on time."

Van Garderen's endorsement of his team leader came as Orica-GreenEDGE domestique Brett Lancaster produced one of his finest grand tour performances to finish sixth behind Cancellara, 11 seconds adrift.

"Definitely it shows the work we've been doing, the high-powered stuff," he said.

"If we put it together in those few kilometres, we should be able to pull off at least one win.

"I've spent so much time on time trial bikes at the velodrome over the years that you're always going to be up there and doing it quite well.

"This (contesting the Tour for an Australian team) is a dream come true.

"Guys like Stuart O'Grady, myself, 'Cookie' (Baden Cooke), 'Gerro' (Simon Gerrans), we've been around for a long time.

"To start in these colours is something special and something I will remember for the rest of my life."
Lancaster predicted Orica-GreenEDGE's leadout train would drag sprinter Matt Goss to a stage win - possibly this week.

"The power is there, we have confidence now, I've been working with Gossy since the Tour of Turkey," he said.

"It's just up to Gossy now, if he can punch out that big sprint.

We'll do our best and hopefully the result follows.

While Sky's Michael Rogers struggled on the riverside course, Orica-GreenEDGE director Matt White praised Lancaster's stunning ride.

"That was very, very impressive - that's Brett Lancaster at his best," White said.

"It's an awesome sign ... to be back at this level with the big boys, it's very encouraging going into the first week of the Tour."