Evans' change in fortune, influenced by health issues, has led him to consider directing his ambition towards the Giro, which he first raced as a rookie in 2002 and led into the last mountain stage before finishing 14th.

''I am still not sure yet, but there is certainly a chance that 2013 might have been my last Tour, because going for another race might be on the cards next year,'' Evans said from his home in Stabio, Switzerland. ''I am going to go to the Giro presentation this year to see the [2014] course. That looks like a direction to head in. After all the years going for the Tour, [the idea of missing it] takes a little while getting used to. But the Giro is always a race I wanted to do and do well in. It's just a matter of changing mindset and so on. So at this point, it looks like directing my energies towards a grand tour other than the Tour de France.''

Evans entered this year's Giro to accumulate needed racing kilometres and firm the confidence of his team for the Tour after an illness shortened his 2012 season. He came third.

The result has firmed his belief in in his potential after a full preparation. ''Hopefully, having a bit more time to prepare and get ready will help,'' he said.

Evans was unable to recover from the Giro for the Tour, and says he realised that early - on the 7.8-kilometre climb to the finish of the eighth stage.