Frenchman Dessel claims Tour's yellow jersey

Cyril Dessel claimed the yellow jersey yesterday at the end of the first mountain stage of the Tour de France, which was won by Spaniard Juan Miguel Mercado.

After 190.5kms from Cambo-les-Bains to Pau, the two men crossed the line 56 seconds ahead of third-placed Inigo Landaluze and 7:23 in front of the peloton and overnight race leader, Serhiy Honchar.

"I have the yellow jersey and the (climbers') polka dot jersey, I can be satisfied with my day even if I didn't win the stage", said Dessel, who became the first Frenchman to don yellow since Thomas Voeckler in 2004.

"I didn't want to let Mercado win because a stage win in the Tour is something rare."

Dessel of the AG2R team, Mercado, leader of Agritubel, and Spain's Landaluze (Euskaltel) were among a group of 15 riders who broke away around the 40-km mark, just before the first climb of the day, the third-category Col d'Osquich.

The 32-year-old Dessel started the stage in 28th position overall, 3:50 behind Ukrainian Honchar.

Today's 11th stage will take the peloton from Tarbes over 206.5 kms with five climbs including the last ascent to the finish at the summit of the Plat-de-Beret.