Evans stamps authority with strong time trial

By Julien Pretot

CHOLET, France (Reuters) - After staying nice and cozy in the peloton for three days, Cadel Evans stamped his authority on the Tour de France on Tuesday.

The Australian took fourth place in the fourth stage, a 29.5-km solo effort against the clock around Cholet, taking over from the other race favorites in the overall standings.

"It is a good start but there is still a lot to cover until Paris," said the Silence-Lotto rider.

"I wanted to compare with the other favorites and I see that since the Dauphine Libere, I have been improving."

Evans took second place in the Tour warm-up race last month behind Alejandro Valverde of Spain.

The shy Australian, who is flanked by a bodyguard on the Tour and is rarely available for reporters at his team's bus before the stages, cannot hide any more.

"For the overall standing, it was a first important rendez-vous," he said.

Evans now has a one-minute and six-second lead over Spaniard Alejandro Valverde, who cannot compete with him in the time trials although the Caisse d'Epargne rider has improved in the discipline.

"It is true that (stage winner) Stefan Schumacher clocked a great time but for me the most important was not to lose time compared with the other favorites for the general classification and I achieved what I wanted to", said Valverde.

"Every second I can take from him is good to take," said Evans, who has been perfectly protected by his team mates in the first three stages.

When Russian Denis Menchov was surprised and lost ground on Monday after the peloton split following a crash at a traffic divider some 50 km from Nantes, Evans was riding in the first group, far from danger.

Evans is fourth overall, with Menchov the first main threat, one minute and 12 seconds behind.

Italian Damiano Cunego, who won the white jersey for the best young rider two years ago, is 16th, 1:26 behind with Valverde one second further back.

If they are to beat Evans, Cunego, Menchov and Cunego will have no choice but to attack him in the mountain stages and come out of the Alps on top since another time trial will be on the menu two days before the arrival in Paris.

(Reporting by Julien Pretot, editing by)