Cadel In Yellow

CADEL Evans lived right up to his status of world champion by riding into the yellow jersey on a grinding ride in the French Alps earlier today.

There was nothing brash as Evans, the BMC Racing team leader, dug deep into his physical and mental reserves to end the day just 20 seconds ahead of eventual stage winner, Andy Schleck of Saxo Bank and Spain's Samuel Sanchez.

Evans crossed the line in a small group of eight riders, officially 10 seconds behind Schleck's winning time of 4hrs 54mins.11secs in the 189lm stage from Station des Rousses to Morzine-Avoriaz.

The 33-year-old Victorian had begun the day in strong shape, trailing overnight leader Sylvain Chavanel by 1min. 25 secs., and not for the first time did the Frenchman riding for the Belgium Quick Step combine, compound badly on a day the stage moved deeper into the higher slopes of the Alps, after early skirting the picturesque Lake Geneva.

Champions find their riding style as early teenagers. Evans, the one-time two-time World Cup mountain bike champion, proved that he is that and more, although he looks pained when pedalling on the steeper climbs associated with this race.

The 33-year-old feels more at home and comfortable on the bike in the Pyrenees which are to come. He now holds the honour of having donned the yellow jersey for a second time, having worn it briefly in 2008 while riding for Silence Lotto when he finished second to Alberto Contador by just 23 seconds.

Like so many at this tour, Evans was given a huge fright when he too crashed early in the day, but he quickly got on with the business of getting back to the front of the chasing group paced by some very willing team-mates, as an early breakaway of seven riders threatened to impact on the make up of the leader board.

The breakaway was soon whittled down to a more manageable three in the shape of  Mario Aerts, Koos Moernhout and Amael Moinard - who posed no threat to the likes of Evans, Schleck or Contado.

At one point the trio's lead hovered at around the seven minute mark, before the Astana train of defending champion Contador turned up the heat to bring them back into the fold thanks in large to Daniel Navarro setting a relentless pace over the Col de la Ramaz and the smaller Les Gets.

It was no surprise Navarro finally cracked on the lower slopes of the lung-busting final ascent to Morzine, leaving it to Alexandre Vinokourov to continue the role of pacesetter, before he too, fell away.

The finish appeared readymade for Contador, but a counter attack never materialised, leaving it to Schleck and Olympic champion Sanchez to battle it out for the stage honours.

Schleck needed to find 30 seconds over the final five kilometres as the maths relayed to him from the team car by Bradley McGee, told him Evans was the virtual leader on the road.

In the end it left Schleck going into today's rest day 20 seconds adrift of Evans, with Contador, third, 1minute one second adrift of the Australian.

But the biggest shock of the day came with the collapse of seven-time winner Lance Armstrong.

The lean Texan crashed twice before going on to lose a further 11mins. 45secs over the final three climbs of the day near the finish to Morzine.

He later conceded his hopes of an eighth Tour win, unless he can conjure a miracle, are over.

The 38-year-old RadioShack leader fell for the first time just 10km into stage, snapping his saddle in the process, requiring a change of bike.

Then just before the main chasing bunch had reached the lower slopes of de la Ramaz climb, Armstrong clipped the curb of a roundabout and fell a second time.

For a while it looked as though Armstrong, paced by Slovenian team mate Januz Brajkovic and fellow American Chris Horner, would make the catch.

But his ageing legs finally caught up with him as he simply couldn't counter the crushing pace set at the head of the group that included many of the heads of state at this year's Tour,  put the hammer down which Armstrong simply could not match.

Armstrong got caught behind a third time in an incident involving Spain's Egoi Martinez who fell on the descent of the second climb over Les Gets, forcing the Texan to stop riding, hop off his bike and walk around the stricken rider, again losing even more time on the group which inlcuded Evans.

The incidents led Armstrong to tumble down the general classification at the end of the day to 39th, 13 mins. 26secs. behind Evans.

Evans didn't have an easy ride into yellow, having crashed early on the stage that also brought down Lance Armstrong.

“I went down pretty hard on my left side. Fortunately, my legs didn't take it,” Evans said.

“I took it (the fall) all on my left arm, which is pretty sore.”

BMC Racing team president Jim Ochowicz said earning the yellow jersey at the team's first appearance at the Tour confirms the commitment the team made in signing Evans.

“All the riders and staff have done the hard work for him all season,” Ochowicz said.

 As to how long Evans can stay in yellow remains to be seen, after today's rest day, he faces another tough day in the Alps tomorrow.

“We'll wait for stages after tomorrow, but I'm happy it's a rest day. Andy (Schleck) is going well, (Alberto) Contador and are really strong, so we'll have to see and decide how to approach the rest of the mountains.”

Meanwhile, Canberra's Michael Rogers of HTC-Columbia moved up the leader board to be 10th overall, just 2mins.31secs behind Evans.

RESULTS and standings in the Tour de France after Stage 8, 189km from Station des Rousses to Morzine-Avoriaz:

Stage 8
1. Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank) 4hr 54min 11sec
2. Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (EUS) Same time
3. Robert Gesink (Rabobank) +10sec
4. Roman Kreuziger (LIQ) +10sec
5. Alberto Contador (Astana) +10sec

6. Cadel Evans (BMC) +10sec
7. Jurgen Van Den Broeck (OLO) +10sec
8. Levi Leipheimer (Radioshack) +10sec
9. Ivan Basso (LIQ) +10sec
10. Denis Menchov (Rabobank) +10sec

General Classification
1. Cadel Evans (BMC) 37hr 57min 9ses

2. Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank) +20sec
3. Alberto Contador (Astana) +1:01
4. Jurgen Van Den Broeck (OLO) +1:03
5. Denis Menchov (Rabobank) +1:10
6. Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin) +1min,11secs
7. Roman Kreuziger (LIQ) +1min,45secs
8. Levi Leipheimer (Radioshack) +2mins,14secs
9. Samuel Sánchez Gonzalez (EUS)+2mins,15secs
10. Michael Rogers (HTC) +2mins,31secs

The Australians
1. Cadel Evans (BMC)
10. Michael Rogers (HTC) +2min 31sec
111. Luke Roberts (Milram) +48:38
112. Matthew Lloyd (OLO) +48:44
131. Robbie McEwen (Katusha) +55:09

134. Wes Sulzberger (FDJ) +55:48
142. Simon Gerrans (Sky) +59:61
157. Mark Renshaw (HTC) +1:05.41
168. Brett Lancaster (CTT) +1:12.31
174. Stuart O'Grady (Saxo Bank) +1:15.23