Frustrated Evans still chasing Wiggins

Reigning champion Cadel Evans issued a veiled criticism of the 2012 Tour de France route after failing to close the gap on Bradley Wiggins.

Australian Evans, riding for BMC, is still one minute and 53 seconds behind British leader Wiggins after stage 10 on Wednesday.

With the help of his Sky team-mates, Wiggins snuffed out a challenge from Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas-Cannondale) to retain his healthy advantage in the general classification.

The 10th stage from Macon to Bellegarde-sur-Valserine involved several major ascents midway through the 194.5km leg, and Evans is concerned this year's layout is playing directly into his rivals' hands.

"Sky have built a team exactly for this course and these kinds of situations, so it leaves opportunities few and far between," Evans said.

"You have to make opportunities for yourself, but tomorrow ... the attacking riders will be more rewarded.

"We'll also see how the other teams react to the race. I'm a bit tired now, an uphill finish is always a bit emptying."

Evans later repeated his concerns in a message posted on his website's Tour diary.

"A mountainous day but not too much excitement on the GC front; I hope these climbs that are so far from the finish don't lead to a controlled and predictable Tour," he said

"I might have missed an opportunity with Nibali today on the descent of Grand Colombier, but with the open and exposed Col du Richmont - it was more favourable to the controlling team than one or two out in front alone.

"Tomorrow's tougher shorter stage will hopefully offer more opportunities - more interesting for everyone involved."

Evans also confirmed he would follow up his appearance in the London Olympic Games by taking part in the USA Pro Challenge, running from August 20 to 26.

"Seeing the huge crowds that were along the route supporting us at the USA Pro Challenge was remarkable and really motivated us to do our best,'' Evans said of his participation in last year's event.

"The course and the mountains were beautiful but incredibly challenging and I can't wait to take them on again.''

Evans' compatriot Matt Goss enjoyed a more successful tenth stage, winning the intermediate sprint for Orica GreenEdge ahead of Belarusian Yauheni Hutarovich (FDJ-Big Mat) and Liquigas-Cannondale Slovak Peter Hagan, who has already claimed three stage victories in his first appearance at the Tour.

"Jumped in my first ?#TDF breakaway today, had to follow sagan so he didn't pick up the 20pts on offer. Grabbed them myself! ?#soliddaytomorra," Goss posted on Twitter.

"happy with the legs and even happier I had a 6m head-start on the HC (hors categorie - beyond categorisation) climb today, that was a solid berg," he added, referring to the 17km-ascent up Col du Grand Colombier.

The 148-km 11th stage from Albertville to La Toussuire-Les Sybelles on Thursday feature two more 'HC' ascents.