Evans takes Ventoux

Cadel Evans confirmed his form is good on Mount Ventoux, taking the latest mountain stage of Paris-Nice. Gesink, 2nd on this stage, leads overall - but for how long? GC is again shaken up, Evans riding in support of Popovych and helping him up the leaderboard, now just 42 secs in arrears. Sanchez and Chavenal both cracked on the climb and lost time - too much to recover. Rebellin and Popovych look like the chief contenders now.

The Top 20 now looks like this (via CN): 1 Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank 17.10.12
2 Davide Rebellin (Ita) Gerolsteiner 0.32
3 Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) Ag2r-La Mondiale 0.35
4 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Silence-Lotto 0.42
5 Juan Manuel Gárate (Spa) Quick Step 1.06
6 Luis León Sánchez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 2.06
7 Gorka Verdugo (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 2.11
8 Alexander Efimkin (Rus) Quick Step 2.30
9 Clément L'Hottelerie (Fra) Skil-Shimano 3.25
10 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Cofidis 3.27
11 Simon Spilak (Slo) Lampre 3.32
12 Carlos Barredo (Spa) Quick Step 4.07
13 Igor Antón (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 4.48
14 Pierre Rolland (Fra) Crédit Agricole 6.02
15 Maxime Monfort (Bel) Cofidis 6.11
16 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence-Lotto 6.40
17 Christophe Moreau (Fra) Agritubel 8.12
18 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre 8.18
19 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas 8.57
20 Eduardo Gonzalo (Spa) Agritubel 9.08