15 Jul 2010

Evans falls foul of devil's elbow

8:36 am on 15 July 2010

The Australian rider Cadel Evans' bid for a Tour de France win has ended in excruciating fashion, nursing an elbow break as he tumbled down the standings in the ninth stage.

Evans had taken the race lead at the end of the eighth stage, finishing 10 seconds behind stage winner Andy Schleck to take a 20 second overall lead on the Luxemburger.

But Evans had sustained an elbow fracture during the stage, and a day after the race's first rest day Evans was dropped halfway through the 25.5 kilometre Col de la Madeleine climb, as the Astana team of reigning champion Alberto Contador set a punishing pace.

He eventually finished 42nd, eight minutes seven seconds behind Schleck and Contador as Frenchman Sandy Casar took the stage honours having been part of an early breakaway.