Kirchen under threat in first high altitude finish

BAGNERES DE BIGORRE, France (Reuters) - Kim Kirchen's Tour de France overall lead will be threatened by hungry rivals in Monday's 10th stage over 156 km from Pau to Hautacam, more than 1,500 metres up in the Pyrenees.

The day features two out-of-category passes and is the first to finish at high altitude.

Although Italian climber Riccardo Ricco, a winner on Sunday, will be favourite for a third stage success, the real fight between the contenders for final victory in Paris is expected to start at last.

"In Sunday's stage, it was more a matter for the big favourites to turn their fingers in the wounds of their rivals to see if it hurt. The first big moment of truth is Hautacam," said Kirchen's Team Columbia manager Bob Stapleton.

Kirchen, from Luxembourg, still leads the Tour by six seconds from Australian Cadel Evans, who may still be suffering after sustaining cuts and bruises in a bad crash on Sunday.

The CSC team, featuring Spaniard Carlos Sastre and Luxembourg's Frank and Andy Schleck, are set to give Kirchen a hard time.

"There will be more damage. It will be our time to attack," warned CSC manager Bjarne Riis.

The Caisse d'Epargne team, with Spaniard Alejandro Valverde helped by 2006 Tour winner Oscar Pereiro, should also be on the attack on the steep Pyrenean climbs.

(Reporting by Julien Pretot, editing by Dave Thompson)