The Associated Press

Overall leader Lance Armstrong, of Austin, Texas, right, and US Postal service teammate Jose Luis Rubiera of Spain ride along during the 10th stage of the Tour de France cycling race between Gap, southeastern France, and Marseille, southern France, Tuesday. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

MARSEILLE, France - Crashes, fatigue and sweltering heat are the usual perils. Lance Armstrong was presented with a new hazard Tuesday at the Tour de France - street protests.

The disruption cost him and others precious time, but his overall lead was safe on a day when organizers said temperatures soared to 115 along the 136-mile route.

"It's definitely the hottest Tour that most of us can remember," said Armstrong, who is trying to match Miguel Indurain's record of five straight Tour wins. "We've always had hot days but never so many in a row."

Armstrong was stuck in a pack of riders briefly blocked by demonstrators, and he completed the 10th stage in a group that finished more than 20 minutes behind winner Jakob Piil of Denmark. Armstrong finished the ride in 45th place.

Alexandre Vinokourov, a Kazak rider for Team Telekom, remained second overall, 21 seconds behind. Spain's Iban Mayo of Euskaltel-Euskadi is third, 62 seconds back. Tyler Hamilton, a U.S. rider, is fifth.

Recording the same time as Armstrong on Tuesday were Vinokourov (53rd place), Mayo (42nd), 1997 winner Jan Ullrich (34th) and Hamilton (36th).

The protest forced riders to stop after supporters of radical farmer Jose Bove ran into the road and blocked cyclists near Pourrieres, about 91 miles into the race. Bove was jailed last month for destroying genetically modified crops and served about six weeks in jail in 2002 for ransacking a McDonald's restaurant construction site.

Tour officials ruled the protest was a "normal race incident," meaning riders would have to suffer the consequences of the demonstration. Armstrong's main rivals got caught in the pack as well, so his overall lead was not affected. The pack lost about 90 seconds.

After three punishing days in the Alps, Armstrong and his main challengers were content to let others move to the front.

Piil, a Team CSC rider, won a Tour stage for the first time. He was in a group of nine riders who broke away 9.9 miles into the race. Because he and the others are not serious threats, Armstrong and the other heavyweights did not bother chasing them.

Riders have a rest day today before Thursday's 95.2-mile stage from Narbonne to Toulouse.

Armstrong's next big objective comes Friday at "maybe the most important time trial I've ever done in the Tour."

"I know the course pretty well," he said. "I've been focusing a lot on the time trial this year in terms of training."

But Armstrong has more immediate plans. He intends to see his wife and three children on his off day and probably take a "big nap."

At a glance

Stage: Gap to Marseille, a 136-mile route toward the southern French coast.

Winner: Denmark's Jakob Piil, in 5 hours, 9 minutes, 33 seconds.

How others fared: Four-time champion Lance Armstrong placed 45th; 1997 Tour winner Jan Ullrich was 34th; Alexandre Vinokourov, in second place overall, was 53rd.

Yellow jersey: Armstrong retains the overall lead at 45 hours, 46 minutes, 22 seconds.

Next stage: Today is a rest day. Thursday's 11th stage is a 95.2-mile route from Narbonne to Toulouse.