Australian Cadel Evans took the Tour de France yellow jersey for the first time in his career after the race's gruelling 10th stage on Monday.

Italian Leonardo Piepoli of the Saunier Duval team won the stage, a 156 km ride from Pau to here in the Pyrenees.

Overnight leader Kim Kirchen was one of the numerous contenders to suffer on the first stage of the race to feature climbs which are so difficult they are unclassified. He finished over four minutes behind Piepoli and over three minutes behind Evans's small group.

The Australian, who rides for Silence-Lotto, now leads the race by just one second from Luxemburger Frank Schleck of the CSC team.

In third place overall is Austrian Bernard Kohl of Gersolsteiner, with Spaniard Carlos Sastre, the CSC team leader, in fourth place at 1:28.

Kirchen fell to seventh place at 1:56 behind Evans, who will now go into Tuesday's rest day glad of the chance to rest having injured his shoulder in a heavy crash on the ninth stage.

Spain's big yellow jersey favourite Alejandro Valverde meanwhile had arguably his worst day on the Tour de France, the Caisse d'Epargne leader tumbling down the standings.

He is now 4:41 behind Evans.

AFP