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 TIGNES, France (AP) - Denmark's Michael Rasmussen won the eighth Tour stage Sunday to grab the overall leader's yellow jersey that was won by Tour champion Lance Armstrong from 1999-05 and Floyd Landis last year.
The 102.5-mile trek from Le Grand-Bornand to Tignes was the second of three Alpine stages, and many contenders just want to stay within striking distance of the leader. No more Lance. No more Landis. And their American successors are off to a lackluster start this year, jeopardizing an eight-year winning streak by U.S. riders at the Tour de France.
Levi Leipheimer is shaping up as the biggest American threat in a competitive field. The Discovery Channel team leader placed sixth in the 2005 Tour, ninth in 2004 and 13th last year.
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