Tour De France 2008

Evans said he was not devastated, despite falling short, and said Sastre's win was a reward for a strong effort by his CSC team.

"No, not devastated. Just disappointed. I felt like I rode a good time trial," he told reporters.

"I had a good day, a good start - the first time check I got after six kilometres I was doing the same time as [CSC rider Fabian] Cancellara, for me that was a really really good indication.

"Sastre's ride in the time trial today was a real surprise."

Evans said his Silence-Lotto outfit had been outgunned by the star-studded CSC formation.

"In realistic terms they [CSC] have three riders that could go close to winning the tour - we had one.

"It comes down also to the fact they have two, two-and-a-half times the budget we do, and straight away that can buy much better quality riders."

Evans' Belgian team manager Marc Sergeant admitted he was surprised by the dominance of Sastre, whose respected climbing skills had allowed him to take the yellow jersey with a solo attack to win the 17th stage climb to Alpe d'Huez.

"We expected a really tight battle and it didn't turn out like that," said the Belgian.

"I saw straight away that he [Evans] wasn't at ease on the bike."

Evans says the constant pressure from the likes of CSC riders Cancellara, Jens Voigt, Australian Stuart O'Grady and brothers Andy and Frank Schleck was extremely difficult to counter.

"Everyone almost looks at me as the favourite, so sometimes I have to dictate the race," he said.

"When I'm in yellow and there are three of those guys attacking me from left, right and centre - to defend from that is not easy."

But the Silence-Lotto rider admitted he was fortunate just to be in contention after a horror crash early in the race.

"I have to be lucky to finish the race after that crash in the first week, I'm still sore put it that way," he said.

The 31-year-old says he still has another three years in his legs to try and win the prestigious event.

"I was having a good progression there from eighth, fourth, second but as I said last year, from second to first is maybe the hardest step," he said.

"I'm always proud to promote the sport a little bit and just to have people interested in it [in Australia]," he said.

"Cycling is not in our culture but I hope people were entertained by it and enjoyed the race.

"I'll be back next year."