L'ALPE D'HUEZ, France (AP) Lance Armstrong took the overall leader's yellow jersey for the first time in the Tour de France, but he showed signs that he may not be the dominant force of years past.

The four-time champion struggled up the legendary ascent to the Alpine ski resort of L'Alpe d'Huez -- a grueling climb he mastered just two years ago -- and finished third in the eighth stage of the Tour.

"If you'd asked me a month ago: 'Are you going to suffer like that on L'Alpe d'Huez?' I would have said, 'No way!' " Armstrong said Sunday. "It was a hard day."