Evans and BMC out-gunned by Sky in the mountains
BMC Racing was without a helper for Cadel Evans in the final climb to the finish yesterday in the Tour de France. Sky at one point, out-numbered the defending champion four to one going up La Planche des Belles Filles.
"We don't have the climbers that some of the other teams have," Jim Ochowicz told Cycling Weekly, "but we have strong bike riders here, who know what they're doing."
Tejay Van Garderen was the last rider with Evans, but lost ground to the leaders with four kilometres to climb to the finish. In addition to losing three minutes, he lost the young leader's white jersey.
The American held the white jersey since day one, when he placed fourth in the prologue time trial in Liège, Belgium. The efforts to protect the jersey may have cost him, according to Evans.
"Tejay expended a lot of energy in the first week and he paid for that on the first climb yesterday," Evans said outside the team bus to about five reporters.
He added that there was not much he could do yesterday, given Sky employed Mick Rogers, Richie Porte and Chris Froome to protect Brad Wiggins.
Evans tried to attack in the final 500m for the stage win and crucial seconds, but saw Froome pass by. Froome took the stage win, Wiggins took the race leader's yellow jersey from Fabian Cancellara (RadioShack-Nissan).
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"You want to take seconds when you can, but when I'm solo and they're in three, there's not much I can do," Evans said. "Yesterday's finish had flat sections, where they can come back with their numbers even if you are riding better."
Ochowicz hopes that his mountain men - Van Garderen, Amaël Moinard and Steve Cummings - will improve with time.
"OK, some of their [Sky's] guys are just better climbers naturally. I'm not going to pretend that we have another rider that compares with Froome. We've got Cadel," Ochowicz continued.
"We're healthy. I think you'll see more of our people get their climbing legs. They can go up hills, they're not going to be racing to the finish line, but they're going to be in those climbs and doing their jobs."
Tour de France 2012: Latest news
Wiggins looking to keep Tour lead until Paris
Froome on Tour stage win: I had the legs and went for it
Martin to lead Garmin in the mountains as Hesjedal withdraws
Dislocated shoulder hinders Greipel sprint
Hesjedal may be out of Tour after Garmin suffer in crash
Stage seven video preview
The Feed Zone: Tour news round-up (July 5)
Celebrating the Tour's lead-out men
Liquigas's yellow and green jersey aim at Tour
Brailsford: Sky on the front for Cav and Wiggins
Tour de France 2012: Teams, riders, start list
Tour 2012: Who will win?
Tour de France 2012 provisional start list
Tour de France 2012 team list
Tour de France 2012: Stage reports
Stage seven: Wiggins takes yellow as Froome wins stage
Stage six: Sagan wins third Tour stage
Stage five: Greipel wins again as Cavendish fades
Stage four: Greipel wins stage after Cavendish crashes
Stage three: Sagan runs away with it in Boulogne
Stage two: Cavendish takes 21st Tour stage victory
Stage one: Sagan wins at first attempt
Prologue: Cancellara wins, Wiggins second
Tour de France 2012: Comment, analysis, blogs
Analysis: How much time could Wiggins gain in Tour's time trials
CW's Tour de France podcasts
Blog: Tour presentation - chasing dreams and autographs
Comment: Cavendish the climber
Tour de France 2012: Photo galleries
Stage seven by Graham Watson
Stage six by Graham Watson
Stage five by Graham Watson
Stage four by Graham Watson
Stage three by Graham Watson
Stage two by Andy Jones
Stage two by Graham Watson
Stage one by Graham Watson
Prologue photo gallery by Andy Jones
Prologue photo gallery by Roo Rowler
Prologue photo gallery by Graham Watson
Tour de France 2012: Team presentation
Sky and Rabobank Tour de France recce
Tour de France 2012: Live text coverage
Stage six live coverage
Stage five live coverage
Stage four live coverage
Stage three live coverage
Cycling Weekly's live text coverage schedule
Tour de France 2012: TV schedule
ITV4 live schedule
British Eurosport live schedule
Tour de France 2012: Related links
Brits in the Tours: From Robinson to Cavendish
Brief history of the Tour de France
Tour de France 2011: Cycling Weekly's coverage index
1989: The Greatest Tour de France ever
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Founded in 1891, Cycling Weekly and its team of expert journalists brings cyclists in-depth reviews, extensive coverage of both professional and domestic racing, as well as fitness advice and 'brew a cuppa and put your feet up' features. Cycling Weekly serves its audience across a range of platforms, from good old-fashioned print to online journalism, and video.
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