There has been a lot of talk about how quiet Cadel Evans has been thus far in the 2012 Tour de France, but he just spoke up in today’s stage 7.
Since the prologue, Evans has been sitting 17 seconds behind the yellow jersey and if it wasn’t for the fact that he is the defending TdF champion, he likely wouldn’t have made any news highlights during the first week of the Tour. But today, Evans showed his stuff and has moved himself into the second place position of the general classification. Okay, this may be in part to Cancellara not being that great of a climber…but he did speak up when the time had come to do so.
Evans had a very strong ride and went in for the attack, but in the final 200 meters of today’s 199km stage it was Chris Froome (Team Sky) who took off with him and was able to power his way to his first Tour stage win. Although Evans wasn’t able to successfully hold on, he did put himself into second place overall. Rival Bradley Wiggins has now inherited the yellow jersey from Fabian Cancellara who has worn it since things got started last Saturday.
It was just earlier this week that The Roar expert, Chris Sidwells, stated Chris Froome could win this Tour de France. I’m not sure he can win, but he definitely showed what he can do in Stage 7. Team Sky had an impressive day and their hard working riders need to be congratulated for what was accomplished. Rogers, Porte, and Froome went full out for Wiggins on the climb into La Planche de Bes Filles and made that 14 percent gradient look much flatter then it actually was.
I think Evans is feeling pretty good about himself right now. Today’s performance has taken off some of the pressure that people have directed his way, and a lot of the speculation is sure to simmer down. He’s definitely close enough to taste yellow, but is able to now ride in a comfortable spot without adding back the pressure by wearing the yellow jersey himself.
How will Wiggins deal with things now that he’s moved into top spot? With a strong team like Sky behind him, I think he’s going to make those 10 seconds that separate him from Evans very hard to make up. But this is the Tour de France and Evans has been in this situation before.
If Evans can speak as loudly in Stage 8 as he did today, he’ll be wearing yellow come Paris.
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