ALPE D'HUEZ, France - Cadel Evans conceded his chance of winning the Tour de France may have slipped away after losing ground on the most famous mountain climb in cycling.
The Australian was gallant and stuck with the yellow jersey favourites for most of the 187km 15th stage, the first of three brutal days of Alpine climbing expected to decide the race winner.
But when it came to the crunch he could not go with new overall leader and favourite Floyd Landis (USA) and Germany's rejuvenated Andreas Kloden on the final kilometres up the legendary Alpe d'Huez.
CSC rider Frank Schleck of Luxembourg claimed the coveted stage victory after he outfoxed Italian Damiano Cunego in the final two kilometres of the 14.9km climb to the summit finish.
Landis and fellow contender Kloden finished together, fourth and fifth, at over a minute behind Schleck but, crucially, ahead of Evans and Russian hope Denis Menchov, with Kloden moving up to sixth overall, one spot ahead of Evans, but 2:29 behind Landis.
After coming through two tough days in the Pyrenees full of promise, there were high hopes for Evans, who finished eighth on debut last year.
But he showed the first, worrying signs of fatigue that has begun taking its toll on most riders and finished 16th in the stage - alongside countryman Michael Rogers - at 2:49 behind Schleck, losing over a minute to Landis in the general classification to trail the American by almost three minutes.
"I just didn't have the speed required to chase down Landis when he attacked," said Evans.
"I just tried to go at my own pace till the finish and limit my time losses as much as I could."
Rogers was eighth in general classicication but five minutes adrift of Landis. Evans still had his sights set on a top three finish.
"I don't know the times yet but I don't think that I can win now," Evans told Cyclingnews.com. "But I am not out of it for a podium... If the others keep going like this, there's not much that I can do.
"The level compared to the other day was higher, and I just wasn't good enough."
While Evans' title hopes slipped, countryman and Davitamon team-mate Robbie McEwen's bid to win the Tour de France points category for a third time strengthened enormously when his nearest challenger, Belgian sprint star Tom Boonen, joined the 24 riders to have dropped out of the race.
McEwen was one of the 53 riders who finished over half an hour behind Schleck, but the green jersey victory now appears almost certain as long as he finishes in Paris on Saturday.
With six riders - Pereiro, Frenchman Cyril Dessel, Menchov, Spain's Carlos Sastre, Kloden and Evans - still less than three minutes adrift of Landis, Kloden warned the race for the yellow jersey was far from over and he was looking to attack.
"The race hasn't been decided yet," said Kloden. "There's another two big days of climbing, and the final time trial.
"In the next days I don't see Landis attacking, so it will be up to me." Landis agreed.
"The time differences are not so big yet. I wouldn't write any of the others off -- a bad day could change everything," Landis said.
Landis picked the best day to show the now retired Armstrong that he was wrong to let him leave his old team, US Postal.
Armstrong, who still part owns the Discovery Channel team, had turned up to watch the stage hoping to see one of his old teammates come to the fore.
Instead he saw the yellow jersey going to Landis.
And despite a yawning gulf in their styles of racing, Landis - who left US Postal because of differences of opinion with the American - said the only result which matters is on Sunday when the race ends in Paris.
"I don't have to win a stage. I'd like to, but I don't have to," said Landis.
"Bike racing is a tactical game. My way of thinking is I would like to save my team as much as possible, right up until the last day if its possible.
"If I finish the race without a stage (win) but with the yellow jersey, I will be more than happy."