Australian rider Cadel Evans won the weeklong Tirreno-Adriatico race yesterday, while Swiss specialist Fabian Cancellara took the concluding time trial.

Evans finished with an 11-second lead in the overall standings ahead of Dutch rider Robert Gesink, while Michele Scarponi of Italy was third, 15 seconds back.

The 2009 world champion, Evans finished second overall in the Tour de France in 2007 and '08.

Evans' victory was somewhat surprising considering he had hardly competed this season before this race.

"I trained really hard this winter," Evans said, adding that his main goal is to get back onto the podium in the Tour. "That's why I didn't race much early this season. I'm working toward this goal in July."

Giro d'Italia winner Ivan Basso finished fourth overall, 24 seconds behind, and Spanish Vuelta champion Vincenzo Nibali was fifth, 30 seconds back.

Cancellara clocked 10 minutes, 33 seconds over the 9.3-kilometer (5.8-mile) individual time trial in San Benedetto del Tronto.

Dutch rider Lars Boom finished second in the stage, nine seconds behind, and Adriano Malori of Italy was third, 19 seconds back, on the flat and straight course along the Adriatic coast.

Among the racers contending for overall victory, Gesink had the top time trial, placing 27 seconds behind Cancellara, but Evans was only four seconds further behind.

"After five kilometers, my team director told me I was five seconds behind Gesink and I thought to myself, 'Maybe I won't win,' but I rode really hard in the second half of the time trial and it worked out," Evans said.

Cancellara has won the time trial world title four of the past five years and also took gold in the event at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Many riders used this race as a warmup for the Milan-San Remo, although Evans is not planning to enter the opening single-day classic of the season Saturday.

Evans selected last year's world champion Thor Hushovd and Cancellara as the top favorites for the Milan-San Remo.