Cadel Evans disappointed on Philippe Gilbert’s Tour de France crash
Cadel Evans of Team BMC started the Tour de France slowly but the cyclist is picking up his last year’s form as the race is entering its second phase.
The Australian rode brilliantly during the previous edition of the race and managed to secure an overall victory at the final general classifications.
He also won stage 4 of the race and held the mountain’s jersey through stages 4-5, during the Tour de France 2011.
Evans is holding the seventh overall position after the stage 4 classifications. He is 17 seconds behind the race leader Fabian Cancellara of Team RadioShack-Nissan.
Bradley Wiggins of Team Sky Procycling, Sylvain Chavanel of Team Omega Pharma-Quick Step, Tejay Van Garderen of Team BMC , Edvald Boasson Hagen of Team Sky and Denis Menchov of Team Katusha hold the next five spots.
Team BMC is one of the strongest sides riding the Tour and currently holds the third overall position after the stage 4 team’s classifications.
The American Team lost Philippe Gilbert during the stage 3 of the race after the Belgian crashed during the event.
"It's always a worry to lose teammates," Evans voiced. "Whenever there's a crash in the peloton you're just hoping all you're guys come through. We need to be firing on all cylinders all the way to Paris".
"Phil, he's a pretty robust individual. He can lose a bit of skin but he just keeps going".
"For him it was probably one of the last opportunities to have a go for himself today, but the most important thing is that we stay healthy and that our GC is pretty good".
Evans is having a good year, and has already filled his bag with several victories in the first half of the season.
He occupied the first overall spot during the Criterium International and third at the Criterium du Dauphine, including a stage each at the race.
It is his eighth Tour de France appearance and the Australian has finished on the podium during the past three editions of the race.
Only time will tell, if Evans manages to find the right momentum to claim an overall victory at the Tour de France 2012.
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