HAUTACAM, France, July 13, 2008 (AFP) – Russian race debutant Yuriy Trofimov became the latest victim of the Tour de France when he abandoned during the race’s 10th stage here on Monday.

Trofimov, who rides for the French team Bouygues Telecom, pulled up after 75km of racing in the 156km stage from Pau to the summit finish of Hautacam.

The 24-year-old, riding his first full season in Europe after joining Bouygues from the Moscow Stars cycling team, claimed his first big career win with a stage at the Dauphine Libere in June.

Luxembourg’s Kim Kirchen began the 10th stage, the second of three in total in the Pyrenees mountains, with a six-second lead on Australia’s leading yellow jersey contender Cadel Evans.