Cadel Evans's Giro d'Italia bid took another blow today on the slopes leading to the Plan di Montecampione. The Aussie Tour de France champion maintained second overall behind Rigoberto Urán, but slid back by 31 seconds.
"It wasn't my best day," Evans said. "I wanted to be better, but there's not much I could do about it."
Urán (Omega Pharma) leads by 1-03 minutes on Evans, 1-50 on Rafal Majka (Tinkoff-Saxo) and 2-24 on Fabio Aru (Astana). Evans began the 225-kilometres stage through Lombardia, which included a 19.35-kilometre climb to Montecampione, only 32 seconds behind Urán. Part of that deficit came from his time loss in the time trial to Barolo on Thursday.
Evans faded again when the attacks came today. Pierre Rolland (Europcar) and Urán tried, but Aru dealt the blow. Under the three-kilometre banner, Evans drifted behind.
Nairo Quintana (Movistar), Rolland and Urán could not follow, either, but maintained their places ahead. Evans, instead, regrouped, with riders behind including Wilco Kelderman (Belkin) and Domenico Pozzovivo (Ag2r La Mondiale).
"My rivals raced well today," added Evans. "I had a bad moment, they did well in the right moment. We are all tightly packed now in the GC. The top 10 is only split by around four minutes. I think we'll have a great Giro d'Italia because we still have some big stages, tappone, ahead and they are going to make a big difference."
Evans will be able to analyse the time gaps further tomorrow, when the Giro d'Italia enjoys its third of three rest days. Afterwards, the race restarts with several stages in the Alpine mountains: Val Martello, Panarotta, Monte Grappa and Monte Zoncolan.
"I hope the bad days end here," Evans said. "It's not that bad now, but for sure, I can't keep losing more time."
Fabio Aru surprises overall rivals with Giro d'Italia stage 15 win
Overall leader Rigoberto Uran loses time to Fabio Aru, but gains time on Cadel Evans and Rafal Majka
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