Evans happy

Davitamon-Lotto team leader Cadel Evans has expressed satisfaction with his ride on stage 11, finishing as part of the Lance Armstrong chase group in seventh. Although he dropped one place to fourteenth overall as the result of Alexandre Vinokourov's time gain, the good sensations he felt on the road to Briançon have given him confidence.

"I felt a lot better than yesterday," he told SBS television after the stage. "It was a bit steeper and not quite as hard, so it was a bit easier to be up there in front. I rode conservatively."

"It wasn't as selective as yesterday, today was different. 15 or 20 went over the climb whereas yesterday there were only five."

Evans welcomed the fact that the race was controlled, saying that not having to dig too deep on every mountain stage makes things better for later in the race. When asked if he plans to make a move, he took a cautious approach. "There's a long way to go yet, we'll see. I'll have to see if I've got the legs first. So far they are ok, but when there's still four Discover guys left...well! I've got a long way to go before I think of making a move on Lance Armstrong. I'm too close on GC so they (Discovery) are not going to let me get too far anyway."

If his legs are good in the Pyrenees he could reap the benefits. "They are very hard, that's for sure," he said. "Normally I'm a bit better on the shorter, steeper climbs which is what you find there. We will see."