95 SECONDS BETWEEN EVANS AND A FIRST TOUR WIN FOR AUSTRALIA

Hendrik Redant, team manager of the Silence-Lotto squad, says he won't lie to Cadel Evans during this afternoon's time trial.

"If he's down, I will tell him he's down," said the Belgian. But he added that the difficulty would be that Evans will be well into his ride before Carlos Sastre even sets off.

"There is nine minutes between them on the road. Ideally it would be more helpful to us if that gap was three or six minutes. It means that the information I give to Cadel will not be that relevant, because he will be finished before Sastre reaches the final checkpoint on the course.

"So there is no option but to go as hard as possible. It may take a long time before Cadel has a big enough gap to win the Tour de France.

"Normally, he should win. It's 95 seconds. That's all it is. He took that in the first time trial at Cholet and that was only 29 kilometres. This is 53. Normally, he should win... but, there are no guarantees.

"We are happy to be in this position. As I said, the only thing that is a little setback is that Evans is fourth overall. If he was second or third, he would have a clearer picture of what Sastre is doing while he's on the road."

Redant said he would be very surprised if either Frank Schleck or Bernhard Kohl were a factor, and said that fifth-placed Denis Menchov was now too far back to win. "No, I think it is only Evans and Sastre," he said.

Meanwhile, CSC directeur sportif Scott Sunderland, said he felt Sastre had a chance. "It's not guaranteed [that Evans would win]. Carlos is in the yellow jersey and the gap gives him a chance.

"He will have to start fast and try to maintain it. There can't be any holding back because Cadel is a strong rider in the time trial and if Carlos doesn't give it his maximum, the gap will close."

Stage 19: Chavanel wins, time trial showdown looms

Stage 18: Burghardt shows that Columbia can win without Cav

Stage 17: Sastre wins on Alpe d'Huez, takes lead

Stage 16: Dessel wins

Stage 15: Schleck takes lead in the Alps

Stage 14: Oscar Freire wins in Digne-les-Bains

Stage 13: Cavendish takes fourth win

Stage 12: Cavendish makes it three

Stage 11: Arvesen wins

Stage 10: Evans takes yellow jersey by one second

Stage nine: Ricco wins in the Pyrenees

Stage eight: Cavendish wins again in Toulouse

Stage seven: Sanchez takes action-packed stage

Stage six: Ricco storms to win

Stage five: Cavendish takes first Tour win

Stage four: Schumacher wins TT and takes race lead

Stage three: Dumoulin wins stage from break

Stage two: Hushovd wins chaotic sprint

Stage one: Valverde wins

Schlecks' father's car searched

Analysis: tactical battle on L'Alpe d'Huez [stage 17]

Schleck promises to attack main rivals

Schleck ready to defend Tour lead [stage 15]

Rest day news round-up [July 21]

Saunier Duval riders: "We are honest"

Cavendish talks to Cycling Weekly after quitting Tour

Schleck savours first ever Tour de France jersey [stage 15]

Comment: Why Cav is right to go home today

Cavendish pulls out of the Tour

Barloworld to end cycling sponsorship

Ricco speaks on Italian television

Cavendish joins the all-time greats

Saunier Duval sack Ricco and Piepoli

Tour bosses say fight against doping continues

Ricco denies doping at the Tour

Saunier Duval pull out of Tour

Tour's top ten changes

Ricco positive for EPO at Tour

Analysis: Tour de France rest day summary

Cavendish battles through Pyrenees

Evans suffers but takes yellow jersey [stage 10]

Analysis: Hautacam shakes up 2008 Tour

Ricco silences critics with solo attack in Pyrenees [stage nine]

Cavendish talks about his second stage win [stage eight]

Beltran heads home but doubts remain about other Tour riders

David Millar: the dope controls are working

Manuel Beltran tests positive for EPO at the Tour

Comment: How the Tour rediscovered its spirit

Doping back in Tour de France headlines

Millar: close but no cigar in Super-Besse [stage six]

Super-Besse shows form of main contenders [stage six]

Millar to go for yellow [stage six]

Team Columbia's reaction to Cavendish's win [stage five]

Cavendish talks about his Tour stage win

Tour comment: Why Evans should be happy [stage four]

Millar: Still aiming for Tour yellow jersey [stage 4]

Who is Romain Feillu?

Cavendish disappointed with stage two result

Millar too close to Tour yellow jersey

Stage 2 preview: A sprint finish for Cavendish?

Millar happy after gains precious seconds in Plumelec

Valverde delighted with opening Tour stage win

Comment: Is Valverde's win a good thing for the Tour?

Stage 18

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Stage three

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Stage one

Life at the Tour part five

Life at the Tour part four

Life at the Tour part three

Life at the Tour part two

Life at the Tour part one

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