The Tour de France top 10, never mind the podium, may be a dream too far for former two-time runner-up Cadel Evans after another disappointing day for Australians in the race on Tuesday. Evans has been racing with a fractured elbow since he crashed at the end of the first week, and the pain, compounded by fast and unforgiving racing on tough terrain, is really taking its toll.

On the third of four days in the Pyrenees the BMC team leader was left struggling early on as wave after wave of attack came on the 11km climb to the Col de Peyresourde just after the start. Despite his efforts to limit the damage, Evans went on to complete the 199.5km stage over a total of four mountain passes nearly 24 minutes down on stage winner Pierrick Fedrigo, who finished seven minutes ahead of the yellow jersey peloton.

Australia's reigning world champion came into the Tour hoping to build on a solid Tour of Italy, and dreaming of going better than his runner-up places in 2007 and 2008.

But with only one real day of climbing left, on Thursday's 17th stage, and a penultimate stage time-trial on Saturday, Evans is way off the pace of leader Spaniard Alberto Contador in 24th overall at 33min 13sec adrift.

It was another sore day in the saddle, and not made any easier by the fact that stage wins, as well as all the places in the tight top ten, are being contested in furious fashion.

"We've had a real hard couple of days here," said Evans.

"I think we had a one day like this last year with an uphill start, but the third week of the Tour when it's uphill like this and after the days we had, and also the racing we've had in the last few stages, has put a lot of people in a lot of difficulty.

"Of course I would have loved to have done something today. I haven't got the legs."

Asked whether his sore elbow was the main concern, Evans said his whole body is now paying for his efforts to compensate.

"That's what's starting to trouble me," he said.

"It's one thing to have a sore arm, but then when you've got a sore back and a sore this and a sore whatever else and you can only pull on one side... that's all part of it."

Before leaving, Evans added: "Right, next year."

Fellow Australian Michael Rogers, of HTC-Columbia, is in a similar position, although the Canberran does not have the same kind of expectation as Evans, having never finished on the podium.

Rogers was left trailing in the early stages and eventually finished with Evans' group 23:42 down on Fedrigo, thus dropping to 29th place.

Fedrigo meanwhile held off the threat of seven-time champion Lance Armstrong to hand the hosts their sixth success, and third stage win in as many days.

Armstrong, who finished sixth, did not rule out trying for a 26th and final stage win on Thursday, but he was quick to applaud Fedrigo.

"I'm not the best guy in the race but I have the spirit of a fighter," said Armstrong, who will turn 39 on September 18.

"Fedrigo was one of the fastest guys out there today and he was just too fast at the finish. Chapeau (hats off)."

After Wednesday's rest day the yellow jersey battle will move up a gear on the climb to the summit of the Tourmalet on Thursday.

Astana's race leader Contador took the yellow jersey from Luxembourg rival Andy Schleck on Monday, but has only an eight-second advantage, meaning Schleck is expected to attack on Thursday to gain time before the time-trial.

"It's the last week of the Tour and I'm sure that we'll be battling a lot on the (Col du) Tourmalet," said Schleck.

"The Tour is not over."