Piepoli claims maiden win as Evans takes control

Italy's Leonardo Piepoli claimed his maiden Tour de France stage victory yesterday while Australian Cadel Evans seized the overall leader's yellow jersey after the first big mountain battle of the race.

As pre-race favourite Evans took the lead, two intimidating climbs dented the hopes of rivals Alejandro Valverde and Damiano Cunego with the duo crossing the line almost six minutes behind Saunier-Duval rider Piepoli.

Luxembourg's Andy Schleck was some three minutes further behind. Piepoli, who helped compatriot Riccardo Ricco win two stages, beat team-mate Juan Jose Cobo Acebo of Spain on the high altitude finish in Hautacam. Frank Schleck of Luxembourg took third place and is now second overall just one second adrift of Evans, who showed a solid display a day after a bad crash.

Evans, who took the yellow jersey off Kim Kirchen's shoulders, finished 2:17 behind Piepoli with Spain's Carlos Sastre, Russian Denis Menchov, Ricco and American Christian Vande Velde, who moved to third overall 38 seconds behind.

Kirchen crossed the line 4:19 behind Piepoli.

"Yesterday was my Tour low, today is my Tour high," said Evans referring to a bad crash that put him in serious doubt for yesterday's stage.

"But as you go, your body re-adapts and you feel a bit better, especially as the team doctor yesterday pressed me from nails to neck," he said.

"To be frank, it hurt more on the descents when parts of my body were bouncing. Every little bit of speed hurt," he said.

A day's rest in Pau today will be ideal for the Australian, second behind Spain's Alberto Contador last year, to lick his wounds and make plans for the second half of the Tour.

"It will be very difficult to keep the jersey as we don't have the strongest team in the race. But I'm more than satisfied with the job they did today and one thing the team is good at is riding at the front," he said.