ANNECY, France, July 24, 2009 (AFP) - Australia's Cadel Evans admits he will be given few chances from the handful that remain on the Tour de France to make amends for his morale-crushing performance on this year's race.

The two-time runner-up languishes in 29th place at 38 minutes, 20 seconds behind leader Alberto Contador following Thursday's 18th stage time trial.

In the 40.5km race against the clock Evans finished 12th, 1:14 behind stage winner Contador but ahead of Lance Armstrong, world champion Bert Grabsch of Germany and fellow Australian Michael Rogers.

In the wake of a disappointing three days in the Alps, where a stunning collapse saw him lose over 30 minutes to Contador of Spain, Evans has been urged by his team to go for a stage win, or help teammate Jurgen Van den Broeck do the same.

However the 32-year-old believes that despite his lowly status in the general classification the peloton will be in no mood to put up with what would amount to a late salvage job of his campaign.

The 20th stage on Saturday finishes on the summit of the legendary Mont Ventoux, whose bald slopes are likely to host the final battle for control of the yellow jersey, and the coveted podium places.

"I see the Tour now from the other side, it's nice but I wish I was at the front," said Evans.

"Today was just okay. I'm back in my normal routine but I have to be realistic for the next few days. If I go hard from the start (on Mont Ventoux) they probably won't let me go (attack)."

Following Evans' disappointing performance speculation is rife that things are not going so well in his Silence team.

The Belgian outfit said recently they would be looking to groom home-grown rider Van den Broeck, who was initially brought to the Tour to help Evans in the mountains, for the years ahead.

But Evans refused to speculate.

"I know there are rumours but I have a contract for one more year and the the world chamionships are coming up," said Evans.

"My contract is more important than rumours."

Rogers admitted he deliberately held back in the time trial to save energy for Sunday's final stage into Paris where his Columbia team will focus on making sure Mark Cavendish wins his fifth stage of this year's Tour.

"My job now is to just look after Cavendish. We're going to save all the energy we've got for the stage to Paris and we're going to hit that one hard," said Rogers.

After finishing in 19th place at 1:38 behind Contador Rogers, a triple world champion, added: "I went out at 85 per cent and saw I wasn't too bad at the first time check. I didn't go full gas but it wasn't a bad ride."

Rogers started out with ambitions to finish high up in the general classification but due to crashes and bad luck he has tumbled down the standings.

"Obviously, I didn't get off to the best start to this Tour because I had three crashes early," he added.

"Through the mountains I never really pushed it too hard. I just stayed with the sprinters and made sure they got through okay. It hasn't been the best Tour for me, but that's life - I'll be back next year."

Of the three Australians contending the yellow jersey, Stuart O'Grady has arguably been closest - albeit through his Luxembourg teammate Andy Schleck.

After Thursday's stage the 24-year-old was even further off Contador's pace, in second overall at 4:11, with Armstrong in third at 5:25.

Saturday's 20th stage to the legendary Mont Ventoux is likely to decide the podium places for Paris, and Andy Schleck has already predicted fireworks as he bids to get older brother Frank, in sixth at 5:59, into Armstrong's place.

O'Grady knows that, once again, he will have a job to do in the coming days.

He said: "I think those guys (Schlecks) have got a lot of power and now they've got more confidence after the 17th stage so we're going to do everything we can to destroy the bunch."