Cadel Evans fears Richie Porte could slip up only once in Tour de France and end hopes of winning

CADEL Evans says Richie Porte is right in Tour de France contention if he can avoid that “one bad day” in the mountains.

Australia's Richie Porte crosses the finish line of the tenth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 161.5 kilometers (100.4 miles) with start in Mulhouse and finish in La Planche des Belles Filles, France, Monday, July 14, 2014. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

CADEL Evans says Richie Porte is right in Tour de France contention if he can avoid that “one bad day” in the mountains.

The Tasmanian is second, trailing Italian leader Vincenzo Nibali by two minutes and 23 seconds after stage 11 as he bids to follow Evans as Australia’s second champion in the world’s most prestigious cycling race.

Evans, the 2011 winner, said Porte was “in perfect position” after his Sky teammate and defending champ Chris Froome withdrew injured last week.

“Richie physically certainly has the capabilities to do a great three weeks, as he’s shown alongside (teammates) Froome and (Brad) Wiggins for their two victories (in the past two years),” Evans said.

“My only thing is that his history in three-week races is that he has one bad day that can cost him a lot of time.

Richie Porte rides in the pack during the 187.5km of the 11th stage of the Tour de France.

“But he’s in a position now he’s a year older, more experienced and mature and if he can avoid that day, he’ll be really well positioned, at least for the podium.

“I’m hoping all the best for him … he’s given so much to his teammates and hopefully it’s the sport’s way of saying you’ve invested all this into the sport … and your team and maybe it’s going to pay him back.”

Evans warned it would be hard to reel in Nibali, but that if Porte could “stay calm and keep doing what he’s doing”, he’d be in the hunt through the Alps and Pyrenees, where he had a nightmare last year in losing more than eight minutes in one stage after giving his all for Froome a day earlier.

“Everyone has a bad day on the tour … but you can’t afford to have that when you’re playing for the podium,” Evans said.

“But another year of maturity and racing in the legs maybe he has the capabilities now.

“(You’re going to) have a bad day, but you can learn to minimise the effects of a bad day and if he can do that he’ll be well positioned for a podium place in Paris.”

Tony Gallopin has a big enough lead to take a peek back and check on the chasing pack.

French rider Tony Gallopin led a late breakaway in a show of opportunism and savvy racing to win Wednesday’s 11th stage of the Tour de France as Italy’s Vincenzo Nibali retained the overall lead.

“Incredible,” said Gallopin of his first Tour stage win. “I came to train for the Tour de France here ... that really served me today.

“It’s really a victory that feels good.”

In the stage’s mini-drama, American Andrew Talansky, struggling through pain from crashes earlier in the race, dropped out of the pack and rode solo much of the day. In a show of grit, he finished some 32 minutes back — enough to qualify to ride another day under race rules.

The top standings didn’t change, because Nibali finished in the pack with the same time as Gallopin. Astana team leader Nibali has a lead of 2 minutes, 23 seconds over Porte, in second.

OPTIONS STILL OPEN FOR CADEL EVANS

CADEL Evans will ride the Vuelta Espana as lieutenant for Spanish Olympic hero Sammy Sanchez, but isn’t sure he’ll contend in a grand tour again.

Evans, 37, only now reaching full race fitness after a debilitating virus struck him down in 2012, said the season’s third and final three-week tour will be the best guide as to his racing future.

After putting his name to the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race on Thursday, the 2011 Tour de France champ committed himself to another season for BMC, but said his results in Spain would help determine his future.

“I have to look at what I want, what the team wants,” said Evans, bumped from the Tour de France squad this year as BMC opted for American Tejay Van Garderen as its protected rider.

“BMC has taken for the Tour a long-term relationship with Tejay, for 3-4 years, and I have no aspiration to be racing at the highest level (by) that time.

“But I’m leaving all my options open at this stage and using this good end of season to be ready for the start of next year and I’ll have time to make a decision then — it’s nothing I need to rush into.”

Evans said he his viral illness in 2012 as he prepared for his Tour title defence was “bigger than I knew” and was only now returning to the fitness and training base he had when rated the world’s top road cyclist.

“I was racing with this virus for a long time and all my recovery was really compromised.

“It’s all coming back together, but time is passing by for all of us.

Cadel Evans poses with a bouquet and a plate after finishing third in the Tour Down Under.

“We can only look back in hindsight, but we did what we thought what was best at the time and now we look towards the future.”

Evans said riding for Beijing Olympic road race champion Sanchez in his native Spain would be a welcome relief for someone who has had the pressure as BMC leader since 2010.

“It will give me a good opportunity to see how my body performs without pressure and expectations of doing the result — a good indicator for the future,” he said.

“Every time I’ve gone to a grand tour it’s about winning or podium or turning myself inside out, this time without pressure or expectation will be interesting.”

Evans, who hasn’t missed a Tour de France since his 2005 debut in the great race, said it was a novelty watching from afar.

“Obviously I want to be there racing, but it’s good for the body to sit out … and there have been a lot of crashes that I don’t miss,” he said with a wry grin.

Mark Hayes

Originally published as Cadel Evans fears Richie Porte could slip up only once in Tour de France and end hopes of winning