34-year-old Victorian conceded 27 seconds to Olympic champion Samuel Sanchez, who finished runner-up on the 14th stage to the unheralded Belgium Jelle Vanendert (Omega Pharma Lotto), who earned his maiden professional win.
More importantly Evans only lost two seconds to his main threat Andy Schleck (Leopard Trek), with Alberto Contador of Saxo Bank seemingly not making inroads and clearly still troubled by knee soreness following his earlier crashes.
Both Andy Schleck and Sanchez of Euskaltel-Euskadi remain behind the Australian in the general classification that sees defiant Frenchman Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) hold onto the yellow jersey a sixth day straight.
"I tried to keep things under control," Evans after the stage, which included six brutal climbs.
Andy Schleck of Luxemburg was third, at 46sec, two seconds ahead of Australia’s Cadel Evans who headed the group containing the main contenders.
There were several attempts by the leaders to shake off rivals on the final 15.8km climb and Schleck’s late burst allowed him to make up two seconds.
French Europcar rider Thomas Voeckler retained the leader’s yellow jersey 1min 49 ahead of Frank Schleck with Evans still third at 2:06 and Andy Schleck at 2:15.
As Alberto Contador survived a major test of his right knee injury, Voeckler stunned everyone by countering a number of accelerations by the Schlecks and Italian Ivan Basso.
The Frenchman started the stage already prepared to hand over the race lead and came over the finish line shaking his fist in celebration.
‘‘I don’t really know what to say. I’m really surprised,’’ said Voeckler.‘‘I didn’t expect to still have the jersey today.’’
After three days in the Pyrenees the Tour continues on Sunday with the 192.5km-long 15th stage from Limoux to Montpellier that has just one category four climb.
Monday is a rest day and the yellow jersey battle will resume during three consecutive days in the Alps starting on Tuesday’s stage 17.
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