Evans says Menchov is a threat

CUNEO – Australian Cadel Evans has all but discounted the threat presented by the CSC team of Tour de France leader Frank Schleck to his own yellow jersey pretensions.

Instead, the Silence-Lotto team leader – who lost the lead to Schleck after Sunday’s first day of three in the Alps – believes Russian Denis Menchov is the man capable of causing him most pain in Paris next Sunday. “Frank Schleck is in the best position, but I saw a very good Menchov yesterday,” Evans told reporters here on Monday during the race’s second rest day.”I’ve been racing against all of these riders for a good few years, and Menchov is the one I know least,” he added.Menchov provided some major drama on the 15th stage to the race’s third summit finish when he crashed after launching a threatening attack.The Rabobank team leader watched his rivals distance him, only to fight back and end up taking more time off Evans.”For him to come back and then to attack again is really incredible,” conceded the Australian, who since the start in Brest on July 5 has consistently picked Menchov as his biggest threat.The Russian is a two-time Tour of Spain champion who has the experience of tough climbs and of the five riders within 50secs of Schleck in the overall standings, he is arguably the biggest threat to Evans in the time trial.The Tour’s second race against the clock is on Saturday, over a distance of 53 km.Of the top six in the overall standings, Evans, Menchov and American Christian Vande Velde of the Garmin team are expected to dominate.Nampa-AFP”Frank Schleck is in the best position, but I saw a very good Menchov yesterday,” Evans told reporters here on Monday during the race’s second rest day.”I’ve been racing against all of these riders for a good few years, and Menchov is the one I know least,” he added.Menchov provided some major drama on the 15th stage to the race’s third summit finish when he crashed after launching a threatening attack.The Rabobank team leader watched his rivals distance him, only to fight back and end up taking more time off Evans.”For him to come back and then to attack again is really incredible,” conceded the Australian, who since the start in Brest on July 5 has consistently picked Menchov as his biggest threat.The Russian is a two-time Tour of Spain champion who has the experience of tough climbs and of the five riders within 50secs of Schleck in the overall standings, he is arguably the biggest threat to Evans in the time trial.The Tour’s second race against the clock is on Saturday, over a distance of 53 km.Of the top six in the overall standings, Evans, Menchov and American Christian Vande Velde of the Garmin team are expected to dominate.Nampa-AFP