Armstrong accepts end of his title bid

Armstrong capitulated on the 189-kilometre eighth stage from Station des Rousses to Morzine-Avoriaz, finishing 11 minutes 45 seconds behind winner Andy Schleck (Team Saxo Bank).

Australian Cadel Evans (BMC Racing) finished in a group 10 seconds behind to become the first world champion to take the Tour race leader's yellow jersey since Greg LeMond in 1990 but Armstrong saw his dreams of winning another title crumble.

"My Tour's finished," said seven-time champion Armstrong, who finished third in his comeback year in 2009.

"But I'll hang in there and enjoy my final Tour. I'm not going to complain. This is just a bad day. It went from bad to worse."

Armstrong (Team RadioShack) slipped to 39th place in the general classification rankings, 13 minutes 26 seconds behind two-time runner-up Evans, who assumed the maillot jaune from Sylvain Chavanel (QuickStep).

Ahead of today's rest day, Schleck now lies 20 seconds behind in second, with two-time champion Alberto Contador (Astana) third, 61 seconds adrift.

Armstrong endured a nightmare day from start to finish. First, 6km in, he veered on to a grass verge following a crash at the front of the peloton, then he hit the asphalt on the exit of a roundabout.

Following the fall, Armstrong was paced back to the peloton by three team-mates, but then came the Col de La Ramaz, the 2010 Tour's first category one climb.

Perhaps the exertion of chasing affected Armstrong, but the Texan was left looking every bit two months short of his 39th birthday as he was spat out the back of the peloton by the relentless pace set by his former Astana team.

Britain's Bradley Wiggins finished alongside Team Sky colleague Thomas Lofkvist, 1:45 down in 19th place, to fall from 11th overall to 14th.