Ailing Contador still a threat: Cadel Evans

Australian Cadel Evans has refused to discount Alberto Contador's bid for a fourth yellow jersey despite the Spaniard suffering from knee trouble going into key mountain stages.

Contador hampered an existing pain in his right knee during his fourth crash in eight days on Sunday's ninth stage, the second in the Massif Central. The Spaniard, who has won all six Grand Tours in which he has competed in, finished the stage with all the yellow jersey favourites but still has a deficit of 1min 30sec to Andy Schleck and 1:41 to Evans.

After a first week that seemed more about survival, the yellow jersey race will move up a considerable notch during three consecutive stages in the Pyrenees starting Thursday. Asked whether he still considered ailing Contador a threat, Evans replied: "Absolutely. He's won all of the last Grand Tours he's competed in since 2007 so you cannot rule him out. Contador has tested us a bit, on the stage (four) to Mur de Bretagne, and I'm sure he will try to again on Luz Ardiden."