Cadel in form for Le Tour

CADEL Evans continued his strong lead-in form for the Tour de France next month with another podium finish at the Dauphine Libere yesterday.

CADEL Evans continued his strong lead-in form for the Tour de France next month with another podium finish at the Dauphine Libere yesterday.

The 34-year-old Victorian, who finished second for the fourth time in five editions, knows he'll need to step up another cog if he's to win on Champs Elysees in a little more than six weeks.

But Evans will have a much stronger unit working for him on the three-week enduro than he had at the Dauphine, calling on the services of veteran American George Hincapie, who shapes as a key figure to help the Australian finally break the stranglehold of Alberto Contador.

Contador's presence on the start-line in the Vendee region of the French Atlantic Coast, is still in doubt with the Spaniard under a doping cloud.

Evans remains upbeat about his chances at the Tour. "All things considered, I'm pretty happy with second (behind Team Sky's Bradley Wiggins) for once," said Evans who won the Tirreno-Adriatico and the Tour de Romandie this season.

His team sporting director John Lelangue rated it a good tune-up for the Tour de France.