BAGNERES DE LUCHON, France (Reuters) - Defending champion Cadel Evans bowed to the heat and the four Pyrenean climbs on the 16th stage of the Tour de France to surrender his crown on Wednesday. "It's over for the Tour victory," admitted his BMC team manager Jim Ochowicz at the end of the 197-km ride from Pau, won by Frenchman Thomas Voeckler. Evans, the first Australian to win the world's leading cycling race a year ago, lost ground on the final Aspin and Peyresourde climbs to finish nearly 12 minutes behind the day's winner and nearly five behind Tour leader Bradley Wiggins. ...
More...