Australia's Cadel Evans of Davitamon-Lotto clinched the Tour of Romandie after winning the final stage, a 20.4km time-trial at Lausanne on Sunday.

Belgian Leif Hoste came second with American Bobby Julich third while overnight leader Alberto Contador and favourite Alejandro Valverde both finished well behind the Australian, who overturned a 24-second deficit on the yellow jersey.

There were four riders still in with a chance of victory before the final stage -- Contador, Valverde, Evans and German Jorg Jaksche.

Hoste, second in the Tour of Flanders behind Tom Boonen and who started in 50th position, was in first spot for some time and was only dislodged by the last but one final rider to finish.

At the steepest climb, Evans was just in seventh place, 28 seconds behind Hoste. It was at the finish that the Australian excelled.

"Of course I'm delighted to have won the tour," said Evans, "But it was not really one of my aims this season. In fact, I had prepared for the the Fleche Wallonne and Liege-Bastogne-Liege but I got ill and had to pull out. In Romandie I rediscovered the form that I should have had two weeks ago."

He added his next major goal was the Tour de France.

Meanwhile, former Tour de France winner Jan Ullrich finished 115th out of the 120 riders who completed all six days of the tour and ended up around 50 minutes behind Evans.

Source: Xinhua