Cadel Evans faces a huge test of his renowned time trialling prowess in tomorrow's race of truth as his Tour de France title bid hangs in the balance.

Evans finally succumbed to the combined climbing might of the Danish CSC team led out by fellow Australian Stuart O’Grady on the final day in the Alps.

But after starting eight seconds from the overall lead he dropped to 1m35s behind the new leader, Spaniard Carlos Sastre of CSC, who scorched ahead on the legendary 14km closing climb to the summit of Alpe d’Huez to win stage 17.

Cairns cyclist Adam Hansen also had a tough day in the Alps, crashing in the first kilometre of the descent.

Hansen returned to the peloton and finished 139th.

He is 113th overall, while teammate Kim Kirchen is out of contention in 11th.

With little expected to change on the next two stages, the race looks likely to be decided in tomorrow’s penultimate 20th stage time trial, known as the race of truth.

The question is whether fourth-placed Evans had given up too much time to Sastre.

In normal circumstances, the Aussie would hope to take at least two minutes from Sastre in a 53km race – the distance of tomorrow’s time trial from Cerilly to Saint-Amand-Montrond.

Yet Evans’ Silence team manager, Marc Sergeant, is an anxious man.

"Less than a minute’s deficit to Sastre would have been better, but we’re still in contention," the Belgian said.

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