MORZINE, FRANCE (AP) -- Lance Armstrong's Tour de France hopes have been dealt a major blow after he struggled in the Alps and was caught up in three crashes during an eighth stage won by Andy Schleck of Luxembourg.
World champion Cadel Evans took the yellow jersey at the end of Sunday's stage, with overnight leader Sylvain Chavanel - like
Armstrong - falling off the top contenders on the tough La Ramaz climb.
Seven-time champion Armstrong lost several minutes to his main rivals while he struggled up the steepest part of the ascent - the first of two tough climbs on the day.
Armstrong crashed once, scraping his knee, and got caught up and delayed in two other spills. One of those also brought down Evans.
Evans is 20 seconds ahead of Schleck overall.
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