Cycling: Schleck keeps yellow jersey as leaders take a breather

Andy Schleck of Luxembourg kept hold of the Tour de France cycle race leader's yellow jersey with little difficulty on a day when the main contenders were happy to sit back and let others do the suffering.

After several days of brutal racing and crashes in searing heat combined to knock seven-time Lance Armstrong and two-time Tour runner-up Cadel Evans out of contention for the title, yesterday's 10th stage was never going to be contested by the likes of Schleck or defending champion Alberto Contador.

Instead, Contador and Schleck stayed safely in the main pack on another scorching hot day over the 179km trek from Chambery to Gap. It featured only one difficult climb - the Laffrey pass.