ALMERIA, Spain // The upcoming Andalusian mountain stages are likely to decide who wins the Tour of Spain, according to second-placed Cadel Evans. After 11 stages, Australian Evans is seven seconds behind overall leader Alejandro Valverde of Spain. Dutchman Robert Gesink is third, a further 29 secs back. "I think these stages are going to be where the Tour of Spain is decided," the 32-year-old Evans said yesterday as the riders enjoyed a rest day ahead of the three consecutive climbing stages.
"Up to now there's just little pieces, the leader's jersey has been decided by time bonuses so it has not been the Tour of Spain we've been used to. "I know [tomorrow's final 17-km climb] of Sierra Nevada. It's windy and there's good roads to the summit, so there's a good chance of a small group finishing. "The other two summit finishes [stage 12 to Velefique and stage 14 to La Pandera] should be more important.
"There's still a lot of guys in with a chance and that will make it interesting." Evans was runner up in the 2007 and 2008 Tours de France but his best finish in the Vuelta was fourth two years ago. Asked if he was hoping for his first victory in a Grand Tour, Evans joked: "With just a tiny difference overall, I'm certainly not planning on quitting." Encouragingly for the Australian, Evans feels he is in much better shape for the race than in 2007.
"I'm in a lot better condition than two years ago, when I was absolutely exhausted after a lot of travelling and some criteriums in August when I started this race," he said. "This time round, I'm feeling fresher." * Reuters
