HAUTACAM (France), July 15: The day after almost crashing out of the Tour de France, Cadel Evans kept his rivals at bay to take command of the race in the first big mountain battle on Monday.

The Australian finished the 156-km 10th stage from Pau to the Pyrenean resort of Hautacam in eighth place two minutes and 17 seconds behind Italian Leonardo Piepoli, who snatched his maiden win on the Tour.

Silence-Lotto’s Evans, however, controlled the race’s big guns with the exception of Frank Schleck, third in the stage 28 seconds behind Piepoli, and Spain’s Juan Jose Cobo, who was second in the same time as the Italian.

Luxembourg champion Schleck of the CSC team is now second overall just one second behind Evans as the 169-strong peloton prepares to enjoy a rest day.

One of the main threats to Evans might now come from twice Vuelta (Tour of Spain) champion Denis Menchov, fifth overall 57 seconds behind.

Last year’s runner-up Evans crashed midway through Sunday’s ninth stage, sustaining cuts and bruises on his left side and damaging his shoulder.

Two intimidating climbs dented the hopes of Alejandro Valverde and Damiano Cunego after the duo crossed the line almost six minutes behind Saunier-Duval rider Piepoli.

Spain’s Carlos Sastre, Menchov, Italian Riccardo Ricco and American Christian Vande Velde, third overall 38 seconds behind, crossed the line with Evans.

Luxembourg’s Kim Kirchen, who started the day in the yellow jersey, finished 4:19 behind Piepoli and dropped to seventh overall.

On Bastille Day, France’s Remy Di Gregorio showed a lot of courage when he joined an eight-rider breakaway before going solo on the out-of-category Col du Tourmalet.

Results of 10th stage:

1. Leonardo Piepoli (Italy/Saunier Duval) four hours 19 minutes 27 seconds; 2. Juan Jose Cobo (Spain/Saunier Duval) +28; 3. Frank Schleck (Luxembourg/Team CSC) +28; 4. Bernhard Kohl (Austria/Gerolsteiner) +1:06; 5. Vladimir Efimkine (Russia/AG2R) +2:05; 6. Riccardo Ricco (Italy/Saunier Duval) +2:17; 7. Carlos Sastre (Spain/Team CSC) +2:17; 8. Cadel Evans (Australia/Silence-Lotto) +2:17; 9. Denis Menchov (Russia/Rabobank) +2:17; 10. Christian Vande Velde (US/Garmin-Chipotle) +2:17; 11. Moises Duenas (Spain/Barloworld) +2:27; 12. Stephane Goubert (France/AG2R) +2:49; 13. Vincenzo Nibali (Italy/Liquigas) +3:40; 14. Mikel Astarloza (Spain/Euskaltel) +3:58; 15. Kim Kirchen (Luxembourg/Columbia) +4:19; 16. Samuel Sanchez (Spain/Euskaltel) +5:22; 17. Tadej Valjavec (Slovenia/AG2R) +5:27; 18. Damiano Cunego (Italy/Lampre) +5:51; 19. Alejandro Valverde (Spain/Caisse d’Epargne) +5:52; 20. Laurens ten Dam (Netherlands/Rabobank) +5:54; 21. Sandy Casar (France/Francaise des Jeux) +6:41; 22. Oscar Pereiro (Spain/Caisse d’Epargne) +7:03; 23. Maxime Monfort (Belgium/ Cofidis) +7:03; 24. Roman Kreuziger (Czech Republic/Liquigas) +7:03; 25. Kanstantin Sivtsov (Belarus/Columbia) +7:34; 26. Stefan Schumacher (Germany/Gerolsteiner) +7:38; 27. Hubert Dupont (France/AG2R) +8:13; 28. Andy Schleck (Luxembourg/Team CSC) +8:59; 29. Remy Di Gregorio (France/Francaise des Jeux) +9:09; 30. Jeremy Roy (France/Francaise des Jeux) +9:09.—Reuters