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German Stefan Schumacher took the overall lead in the Tour de France by claiming a surprise stage four win in the 29.5-km time trial around Cholet.

The Gerolsteiner rider clocked a winning time of 35 minutes and 44 seconds as the time trial specialists fell by the wayside.

Green jersey and overall contender Kim Kirchen (Columbia) took second-place a full 18 seconds behind the new yellow jersey, while Briton David Millar (Garmin-Chipotle) put in a solid ride to take third place in the same time.

"It is incredible, winning the stage and taking the yellow jersey at the same time is a dream coming true," said the 26-year-old Schumacher.

Tour favourite Cadel Evans (Silence-Lotto) was fourth at 27 seconds off pace, while stage favourite and two time world time trial champion Fabian Cancellara (CSC) put in a disappointing effort to drop to fifth.

The Swiss specialist had been highly touted for the short time trial around Cholet, which was held earlier than usual this year.

But Cancellara's ride was apparently affected by early winds, which died down by the time some of the later riders left the start line.

Stage one victor Alejandro Valverde (Caisse D'Epargne) was Tuesday's biggest loser, however, finishing 23rd at 1:34 behind Schumacher's winning time.

Australia's Evans is now the best placed of the favourites at 21 seconds behind Schumacher and fourth overall, with Kirchen second and Millar third at 12 seconds off pace.

"So far, so good," said Evans. "I am first in the favourites' standings."

Spain's Valverde is now one minute and six seconds behind Evans, while Italian climber Damiano Cunego only lost 58 seconds on the Silence-Lotto man.

Denis Menchov (Rabobank), who lost 30 seconds after being dropped from the peloton in stage three, also put in a good performance to finish sixth at seven seconds behind Evans.

The Russian is now 11th overall at 51 seconds behind the Australian, who finished second in last year's Tour.

Tour of Italy runner-up Riccardo Ricco, who was also in the group dropped by the peloton in the third stage, slipped further out of contention after finishing three minutes and 36 seconds behind Schumacher.

French break-away artist Romain Feillu, who started the day with the overall lead, lost 4:59 to the German falling to 41st overall.

Schumacher, who won the Amstel Gold Race last year and two stages of the Giro d'Italia in 2006, will wear the yellow leader's jersey into Wednesday's longest stage of the Tour, a flat 232 kilometre race from Cholet to Chateauroux.

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Jeremy Stahl / Eurosport