Cadel Evans gets ground through the Tour

Yesterday we lived the first important stage of this Tour de France 2008, a 29.5 km time trial starting and finishing in Cholet. It was the first opportunity to see the real forces of the favorites.

Australian Cadel Evans was the best of the favorites to finish fourth in the time trial 21 seconds behind the winner and current yellow jersey Stefan Schumacher. George Hincapie finished seventh at 41 seconds and Denis Menchov at 1:12.

Oscar Pereiro, winner of the 2006 race, Schumacher came at 1:22 and shortly thereafter entered Damiano Cunego and Alejandro Valverde, who expressed doubts in the first serious test in this Tour de France. He said that the Tour has just started and do not worry, but Cadel Evans as he gets in the overall 1:07 minutes. short distance but must be neutralized in the mountain stages to come. The first classified Spanish is Jose Ivan Gutierrez, 50 seconds behind leader Schumacher.

Oscar Pereiro is at 1:28 and Carlos Sastre, another of the most important Spanish assets, at 1:43, knowing good time climber Carlos Sastre is born and not trial. He defended well.

Today's stage is another of those long stages of the Tour's first week, and a priori flat without much emotion. 232 km. Tomorrow will begin the final mountain stages with high which will be another good test for the favorites put their cards on the table.

Image: Flickr.com