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Poor Cadel Evans, even when the Australian does go on the attack his fellow escapees just tell him to get lost.

"I get in the breakaway and they carry on like three-year olds with a tantrum, saying, 'Err, get out of the group they are going to chase us'," said an aggravated Evans, sounding very much like a three-year-old in a tantrum.

Evans tried his luck on the first of stage nine's three climbs in a bid to win back some of the three minutes he lost in the opening week of the race. But, like the malco kid picked last in school PE lessons, he found himself persona non grata as Team Lancestana monitored the situation closely.

After some strong words with Big Thor Hushovd - suggestions what was said below, please - a dejected Evans slipped back into the peloton like a neutered dog returning from the vet.

Clearly annoyed with the image of him being an overly conservative rider - an image encouraged by "ignorant members of the media" such as Blazin' Saddles - Evans went on the rampage after the stage.

"I get so sick of being told, 'Why don't you go in an early break? Why don't you do this? Why don't you do that?' Do you think anyone in the Tour de France would let me go in a break?"

The outburst was rather bizarre, not least because Evans seemed to have already answered these questions with his actions earlier in the day.

Damned if he does, damned if he doesn't, Evans summed up the situation succinctly: "It was a big waste of energy." Much like reading this blog, some of you might say.

TOUR DE LANCE? Drama broke out during Yahoo! Eurosport's online coverage of stage nine when readers complained about a lack of Lance Armstrong-related updates.

The live reporter was actually slated for spending too much time focusing on the events going on with the leaders on the road and too little on every breath the American made.

Would it have really been worthwhile to insult the intelligence of the majority of fans by reminding them every five minutes that Armstrong was riding along safely alongside his team-mates?

When the commentator rightfully suggested that this was the Tour de France and not the Tour de Lance, many cycling 'fans' actually wrote in to argue that the race (which has been around for over a hundred years) was in fact not as important as one of its protagonists, that it would die out after the American called it a day.

When will people realise that there really is no need to comment on an unchanging factor when there is so much more of interest going on further up the mountain?

"Give Lance and his fans the attention you give others," wrote one reader. But unless Armstrong does something to merit a mention, why state the obvious?

After all, the live commentator didn't mention Cervelo's Jose Marchante, who finished alongside Armstrong, once. Why not? Because, like Armstrong, he had a quiet day and simply did what was necessary.

Of course, the interest in the Texan dwarves that of the Spaniard - but people have to realise that Lance is not at the centre of every piece of action in the race. And if something does happen to him, do you actually think it would be ignored?

QUOTES OF THE DAY: "It didn't do us a lot of damage it did him more damage, I think." Johan Bruyneel on Evans's breakaway attempt.

PLAT DU JOUR: Foie gras with a prune jelly followed by a hearty cassoulet and some tome cheese. To drink, a Floc de Gascogne, which combined fresh grape juice with young Armagnac.

PREDICTION: Stage nine features the brutal climbs of the Col d'Aspin and the Tourmalet (famed for its llamas) but isn't it a bore that there's such a long, downhill slog to the finish - again! 70km after the main climb pretty much makes its influence redundant so expect a victory from someone not in contention for the GC. Maybe Christophe Moreau will have a pop? Maybe Evans will attack on the Aspin?

Don't forget to follow Blazin' Saddles throughout the day on www.twitter.com/saddleblaze.

Stage 9 LIVE at 11.30am on Sunday 12th July on British Eurosport (Sky 410 / Virgin Media 521); Also available on your PC via the Eurosport Player - click on the link under the picture to subscribe

Felix Lowe / Eurosport