HAUTACAM, France—Bruised and sore and aching from head to ankles, Cadel Evans stood on the podium with tears in his eyes and a yellow jersey on his back.

The Australian took the overall lead in the Tour de France on Monday after a punishing 10th stage through the Pyrenees. His surge to the front came a day after he tumbled over his handlebars, leaving him with a cracked helmet and a body coated with cuts. He feared his Tour de France was over.

The 31-year-old Silence Lotto leader, a favorite going into the race, seized the lead from Kim Kirchen of Luxembourg in a stage won by Leonardo Piepolo of Italy on Bastille Day. Evans has the smallest possible lead—one second—over Frank Schleck of Luxembourg as the race takes a rest day today.