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, Beno�t 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