How Tour de France hero John-Lee Augustyn became a fall guy

Yesterday, that man was John-Lee Augustyn, yet in years to come the South African will be remembered more for what happened on his descent. Misjudging a treacherous corner, Augustyn disappeared over the raised edge in a cloud of dust and, bike catapulting over him, tumbled and slid down the mountain.

Mad scramble: Augustyn battles to rejoin the race

When he finally came to a stop the Barloworld rider discovered, firstly, that the smooth soles of cycling shoes are no match for loose gravel on a steep incline and, secondly - after being pulled and pushed back up by a helper - that he had no bike to ride. His crumpled machine had fallen further than he had.

A replacement arrived within a minute and Augustyn gingerly completed the descent into the mountain resort of Jausiers more than five minutes behind stage winner Cyril Dessel.

Miraculously, he escaped with nothing more than bruising. Still shaken, he said: 'I was scared that I was going to fall to Hell but luckily it was just a slide. You don't know what's waiting on the other side. It was a relief.

'I overshot the corner because I was going too fast. You're in such a rush, doing all you can to win and you take chances. Unfortunately, I came down. I do feel it's a miracle that I'm not badly hurt. I'm very glad about that.

'It was hard to get back up to the road. Luckily someone helped me. Then I just took it easy the rest of the way. I'm disappointed that I didn't win the stage but happy that I'm still alive. Yes, people will remember me being first over the Bonette but I think they will remember me falling off it more.'

French President Nicolas Sarkozy was present at the summit to witness Augustyn's triumph and fall from grace, having flown in via helicopter and landed at the military outpost situated on the top of this 9,300ft peak.

It is only the second occasion in Tour history on which the mountain has been attacked from the southern side. It was easy to see why. As if a 17-mile climb with an average gradient of 6.2 per cent was not enough to sap the strength from the legs of the 152 riders who attempted it, they then had to contend with oxygen deprivation.

Pity Italy's Francesco Chicchi. The Liquigas rider slogged his way over both of the day's mountains and back down again to finish 39 minutes behind Dessel, only to be eliminated on time.

The stage had begun in Chicchi's homeland in the town of Cuneo, from where the gastronomic genius Michele Ferrero hails. Nutella, Tic Tacs and Ferrero Rocher, anyone?

Judging by the yellow bunting that draped from lamp-posts, bridges and verandahs, the only discernible difference between the respective regard that France and Italy hold for the race is that Le Tour became Il Tour for a day.

There was certainly no differentiating between most of the main contenders for overall victory. Race leader Frank Schleck protected his seven second advantage over Bernhard Kohl, with pre-race favourite Cadel Evans a further second back. The three men finished together.

In contrast, a safety-first descent by Denis Menchov meant he lost 35 seconds and fourth place to Schleck's CSC team-mate Carlos Sastre, who paced the yellow jersey wearer throughout the lungaching final ascent of the Bonette.

Team orders are likely to be abandoned today when survival of the final Alpine stage will be the primary motivation. The Col du Galibier, the Col de la Croix-de-Fer and l'Alpe d'Huez are mountains that, in combination, will break even the strongest of men. A decisive attack by one of the top five would all but ensure that bravery is rewarded with victory in Paris on Sunday.