Yesterday Cadel Evans took back five seconds from Rigoberto Uran but today he lost a lot more to the race leader when he conceded 31 seconds to his Colombian rival. Admitting that the day wasn't his best, he refuses to throw in the towel and is looking forward to a final week full of mountains.

Cadel Evans finished 10th on Sunday's mountain-top finish to remain second overall at the Giro d'Italia, 63 seconds behind race leader Rigoberto Uran (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) heading into the race's final rest day. Evans conceded 31 seconds to Uran, who finished fifth as Fabio Aru (Astana Pro Team) soloed to win the 225-kilometer stage punctuated by a final climb of 19.4 kilometers.

"It is the second day I have lost time, which was not what I was hoping for," Evans said. "I will try to have a good rest day and make up the difference."

A flurry of attacks in the final five kilometers came like clockwork: Pierre Rolland (Team Europcar), then Uran, then Evans, then Rolland again. BMC Racing Team's Steve Morabito took up the chase for Evans, who had earlier been paced by teammates Samuel Sánchez and Ben Hermans on the climb. But riding alone between kilometers 3 and 2, Evans started losing ground as more riders attacked.

"Today was not my best day," Evans said. "I think Uran raced really well. I could have raced a little bit better, but there's not much I can do about that now. There are still a lot of days to come."

When racing resumes Tuesday, a 139-km stage featuring three climbs awaits

"We have had two weeks of racing and the first riders in the GC are divided only by a few minutes," Evans said. "I don't think anyone expected a Giro this close."