An emotional Cadel Evans said he suffered the "worst day" of any Tour de France campaign on Sunday's 15th stage where he slipped back to over four minutes off the leading pace.

Silence's two-time runner-up started the 207.5km stage from Pontarlier 3min 07secs adrift but after the 8.8km climb to the summit here Evans slipped down to 4:27 behind new race leader Alberto Contador.

Attacks by Frank Schleck then Contador put the pressure on all the leading favourites on the final climb before Contador, who rides for Astana, raced off on his own to win the stage and take the race's yellow jersey.

A visibly drained Evans struggled home 1:26 behind Contador, who beat the Australian by 23secs to win the 2007 Tour de France.

"That was the worst day from kilometre zero," said Evans, who has finished second overall for the last two years.

"From kilometre zero, I was having possibly one of the worst days of my Tour de France career on what is the most important day for the classification.

"Sometimes you just have to do what you can and I don't know about the time loss and the placings, but I think I defended well for a guy who was having a horrible day.

"I don't know what the time losses are or anything. I wasn't death on a bike, but it was a real bad day for me.

"I had a terrible day, there was not much left in my legs at the end."

Clearly exhausted and emotional after more than five hours in the saddle, Evans was then whisked away for a doping control.

"I need to see the doctor now, I don't know what the problem is," he muttered before being led away.

AFP

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