Cadel Evans was one of the big losers in today's dramatic queen stage of the Giro d'Italia as the veteran slipped from 2nd to 3rd in the overall standings. Cramps on the final climb and snow on the descents made it a tough day for the BMC captain.

Cadel Evans fought his way to 10th place Tuesday on a cold, snowy and wet mountainous stage of the Giro d'Italia. But the BMC Racing Team's leader slipped from second to third in the standings as the overall lead changed hands.

Nairo Quintana (Movistar Team) soloed to win the 139-kilometer stage and take the maglia rosa from Rigoberto Uran (Omega Pharma-Quick Step), who dropped to second overall, 1:41 back. Evans arrived 4:48 after Quintana and is now 3:21 off the lead and among five riders grouped within 27 seconds of each other in the overall standings.

"In the final, I started cramping," Evans said. "I was limping on one leg all the way home. It is a pity. Normally I am reasonably good in these extreme conditions. But when I can't see the road, I can't descend down it. When I have to pedal with one leg, I can't go uphill. So it was really a day of conservation and survival."

The challenging conditions were evident in the stage results: Only 15 riders finished within 10 minutes of the stage winner and 122 of the 160 riders left in the race conceded 30 minutes or more.

Evans said his battle began right from the start in Ponte di Legno up the snow-lined Gavia pass. "The first climb, I was over-dressed," he said.

"The first descent, I couldn't see through the snow. The second climb – the Stelvio – I was fine. But on the downhill I started getting cramps. It seems ridiculous today – it is below zero and I am dehydrated. But we were either going uphill or downhill, so the opportunities to drink were limited."

Evans said with five stages remaining – including Friday's 26.8-km uphill time trial – he is not losing hope of maintaining or improving his position.

"We came here with big intentions and we came here to give absolutely our best," he said. "We have all worked very, very hard. I think we have seen in the last couple of days that anything and everything has happened in this Giro. And anything can still happen. That is what makes the Giro so dramatic."