12 Jul 2010

Aussie takes Tour lead in Tour de France

6:39 am on 12 July 2010

The Australian cyclist Cadel Evans is the new leader on the Tour de France.

On stage 8 in the French Alps, the world champion Evans and reigning Tour de France champion Alberto Contador finished in a group of nine riders 10 seconds behind the stage winner, Luxembourg's Andy Schleck.

Evans leads overall by 20 seconds from Schleck with Contador third at 61 seconds.

Seven times champion Lance Armstrong has conceded his tour is effectively over after crashing twice and losing nearly 12 minutes to the leader, but he's keen to stay in the race and get some pleasure out of it.