IT wasn’t a happy hunting tournament for  Australia’s reigning road race world champion Cadel Evans, who finished 18th to place sixth overall in the Tour Down Under.

He had a heroic third place in sapping heat on day three but struggled to keep the pace thereafter.

Evans says he is focusing this year on “unfinished business” at the Giro d’Italia and Tour de France.

 ”I didn’t come here with any expectations because putting pressure on yourself to perform when you haven’t done the preparation isn’t healthy,” he said. “Hopefully it’s a sign of things to come,” he told media afterwards.