Rasmussen climbs to front of pack

From a British perspective, there was early promise from David Millar, who made it into the day's big break, punctured at the foot of the day's toughest climb, the monstrous Cormet de Roselend, and never recovered. There was also a disappointing - but hardly surprising - end for Mark Cavendish, who climbed off mid-stage. The 22-year-old sprinter has enjoyed a baptism of fire, crashing heavily in the first two stages then scoring two top-ten finishes. But the Tour's 'Lanterne Rouge' - the title given to last man in the overall standings, an 'honour' achieved by Cavendish following Saturday's first day in the Alps - was never going to finish the three-week race.

At least Cavendish didn't depart the race in an ambulance, as several did yesterday. The narrow and twisting passes of the Alps claimed, among others, two of Australia's top riders, Stuart O'Grady and Michael Rogers. The most spectacular 'chute' of the day, though, was by one of Rasmussen's breakaway companions, David Arroyo, who overshot a corner and plunged into a ravine. Fortunately his fall was broken, and he was able to scramble back and carry on. Arroyo re-captured Rasmussen and stayed with him until the final climb to Tignes but, as the slope steepened, the man known as 'Chicken' on account of his skinny legs was rampant. He finished alone and didn't even have time to put his arms up in the traditional celebration.

With two weeks still to race, Rasmussen's brash confidence was as surprising as it was out of character. He is, as he noted, "a pure climber," and there are still two long time trials to come. "If I am to take the jersey all the way to Paris then I'll have to time trial better than I ever have in my life," he added. "But this could be my year - the Pyrenees [there are three stages there next week] are extremely difficult this year." The real excitement, though, was behind Rasmussen. Moreau was the main aggressor, and looked the strongest, but in the end it was the wily Basque climber Mayo, a team-mate of Millar's, who timed his move best. He nicked the runner-up spot on the day to move to third overall, after a day of attacking, the likes of which has not been seen at the Tour for the best part of two decades.

This Tour could yet produce an even more surprising outcome: a first French winner since Bernard Hinault in 1985. Moreau, in the French champion's jersey, looked to be the strongest of the chasers and is up to seventh overall. The other story was the further suffering - and loss of time - endured by the Astana team, led by the bruised and stitched-up Alexandre Vinokourov and Andreas Kloden, who 'only' has to contend with a hairline fracture of the coccyx.