Every one in the compound where we work at the finish line each day agreed: this was the best stage in a Tour de France in a very long time. No punches were pulled on the climb of the Col du Tourmalet and things got even more difficult on the finishing climb of Hautacam, near Lourdes. In the end, Australian Cadel Evans, a crash victim on Sunday, became a tearful new leader of the race by a single second. . . .

Christian Vande Velde started the day in third place overall and full of confidence. After he finished tenth to remain in third place overall, any non-believers that he was not capable of a high finish in Paris, stood in line to apologize! He is set now to lead his new Garmin-Chipotle team into the Alps and in this very unpredictable race, anything is possible.

Evans Shows Mettle by Phil Liggett

General classification after stage 10

1) Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence - Lotto.....................................42.29.09
2) Frank Schleck (Lux) Team CSC - Saxo Bank.............................0.01
3) Christian Vande Velde (USA) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30.....0.38
4) Bernhard Kohl (Aut) Gerolsteiner.............................................0.46
5) Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank...................................................0.57
6) Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Team CSC - Saxo Bank....................1.28
7) Kim Kirchen (Lux) Team Columbia..............................................1.56
8) Juan Jose Cobo Acebo (Spa) Saunier Duval - Scott..................2.10
9) Riccardo Riccò (Ita) Saunier Duval - Scott...........................2.29
10) Vladimir Efimkin (Rus) AG2R La Mondiale...............................2.32