Michael Rasmussen keeps his legs turning over on Monday's rest day and starts stage nine in the yellow jersey
The riders face a tough 159.5km ahead with the Col d'Iseran, Col du Telegraphe and Col du Galibier all looming
Jose Luis Arrieta opens up a small lead as the riders head out of Val d'Isere and straight up the 2770m Col d'Iseran
Alexandre Vinokourov bides his time as the peloton starts to spread out and Yaroslav Popovych overhauls Arrieta's lead
Popovych is caught on the descent by a group five, including Vladimir Glusev, Benoît Vaugrenard and Mikel Astarloza
Spectators write riders' names in the snow as David Millar sets the pace in the pack towards the Col du Telegraphe
French President Nicolas Sarkozy observes the spreading field from his vantage point in the race director's car
Columbian Juan Mauricio Soler Hernandez attacks the front and opens up a lead over the out-of-category Col du Galibier
Rasmussen stays well organised with his Rabobank team-mates in the peloton and keeps in touch with the leaders
Soler Hernandez maintains his narrow lead over the nasty last climb into Briancon and claims his first stage win on Le Tour
Alejandro Valverde keeps up the pressure on Soler Hernandez all the way to the line and completes an impressive day
Rasmussen holds on to the yellow jersey and is congratulated by Sarkozy after finishing just behind Soler Hernandez
Vinokourov looks distraught at the finishing line as the injuries he picked up on Sunday seem to be taking their toll
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