Australian Cadel Evans showed the peloton that Contador isnt the only man to worry about in this years tour by clinching his first stage win in Mûr-de-Bretagne. Fighting back after an earlier mechanical problem saw him drop back, the BMC rider went head to head with Spaniard Alberto Contador battling it out right to the last on the newly christened "the Breton Alpe d'Huez". Contador's team mate Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana) finished in third, followed by Sky's Rigoberto Urán fourth, while pre-stage favourite Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto) came fifth.
With BMC keeping a close eye on the earlier 5 man break, they worked hard to propel their man into real contention for the race lead. However Garmin-Cervelo's Thor Hushovd gave a storming performance to clinch sixth place allowing him to keep the Yellow Jersey for another day.
Content to take the polka dot jersey for now, Cadel Evans was grateful to his team mates for their hard work that saw him take the stage win and be named IG Markets Rider of the Day, the second time he has been honoured by the accolade; a feat unmatched by any other rider.
Tomorrow sees a return to the tradition format of first week sprinting as the peloton heads from Carhaix to Cap Fréhel through spectacular countryside, with the final 70km alongside the sea. Calculating the wind and the possibility of echelons might lead to some surprises.
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