Dutchman Erik Dekker won the eighth stage of the Tour de France today after a day-long breakthrough shivering cold and rain gave the leaders a huge advantage over the main body of riders.
Stuart O'Grady, who finished the 222.5-kilometre stage from Colmar to Pontarlier in fifth, regained the yellow jersey.
Lance Amrstrong, who was running in the main pack of riders set to finish around 30 minutes later, is unlikely to feel too threatened by O'Grady'slead with five tough mountain stages to come.
O'Grady, a sprinter by trade, finished over 40 minutes behind Armstrong in the first mountain stage in 1999 and failed to make it even that far lastyear.
Dekker was lifted to his stage win by Rabobank team mate Marc Wauters, who helped him see off the challenge of second-placed AitorGonzalez of Kelme.
The race continues on Monday with a 185-km stage from Pontarlier to Aix-les-Bains.