Yet again, and for a second year running, the Australian finished just a hair's breadth away from becoming the first Australian to win the world's toughest bike race, the Tour de France, earning himself the Herald 's performer-of-the-week award, presented by Colonial First State.

While last year the 31-year-old Victorian finished 23 seconds behind Spaniard Alberto Contador, this time he reached the finish line in Paris 58 seconds behind the winner.

That being another Spaniard, Carlos Sastre, who made the yellow jersey - or maillot jaune - his for keeps by finishing the race that began in Brest on July 5 at an average speed of 40.492km/h to clock an overall winning time of 87 hours, 52 minutes and 52 seconds.

Sastre, from the strong CSC team, came through in the last week to emerge as the freshest rider of 145 survivors from 180 starters. But as the lights dimmed over Paris when the race had been won and lost, Evans was toasted as the rider they had to beat.

It is testimony to Evans's grit that he still finished second again - the best by any Australian - after injuring his left shoulder and suffering cuts and abrasions to his left side in a crash, as well as shattering his helmet, on stage nine to Bagneres-de-Bigorre.

There is no doubt the energy spent in backing up from his injuries the day after in the Pyrenees to take the yellow jersey, defend it for five days and then fight to try to take it again in the penultimate stage-20 time trial on Saturday played a role in his result. So, too, that unlike Madrid-born Sastre - 33, and whose win was deserving - Evans did so without the back-up of a team working for him in the flat stages and in the Pyrenees and Alps.

Before enjoying a post-Tour celebration in Paris, Evans revealed the extent of his suffering.

"I was lucky to continue after that first crash. I'm still sore," he said with his mother Helen Cocks, who made a surprise visit to watch him, and his wife Chiara by his side.

"I rode a good race, I gave everything, 110 per cent of what I had in my legs I got on to the road and on to the results board but obviously it wasn't good enough."

Nothing that he experienced during the Tour has stymied the passion that fuels the Northern Territory-born cyclist.

"The difficulty of the sport brings out qualities in human beings," Evans explained.

"In the modern world we need our limits to be pushed sometimes and cycling is a fantastic sport for that. The sport is in my heart."

EVERY Tuesday, the Herald Sport team will announce our most outstanding performer of the week. The winner could be any Australian team or individual from a major sport. Readers will select the performers of the year by voting online in November. Until then, give your feedback or selections each week on smh.com.au.