Stage 16: Tuesday, July 20 – Bagneres-de-Luchon to Pau (199.5km)

Various developments overnight after the Schleck/Contador debacle. Booing of Contador at the podium yesterday, a semi-contrite video posted on YouTube. The debate will run and run…

Today’s stage was a comparatively quiet one. A ten-man break rolled away early on, but with major names such as Lance Armstrong (Radio Shack) and Bradley Wiggins (Sky) on board, was never going to be allowed to get too far away. In amongst the group was veteran French rider Christophe Moreau (Caisse d’Epargne), who was first over the last two climbs, bringing him up to second place in the King of the Mountains competition. Wiggins dropped back into the peloton, but Armstrong stuck with the lead group.

The main field had a quiet day. With the long run-in to the finish, none of the main overall challengers was in a position to take any sort of serious advantage over their rivals.

40km from home, Carlos Barredo (Quick Step) attacked off the front of the lead group, hoping for a long-distance stage win. But the group had the measure of him, and were sufficiently organised – and paced at a terrific rate by Moreau – to overhaul the luckless Barredo just 1km from the line.

That left an 8-man bunch sprint to the line. Armstrong contested the sprint, but started from an awkward position and ultimately didn’t have the legs. The stage was won by Pierrick Fedrigo (Bbox Bouygues Telecom), with compatriot Sandy Casar (Francaise des Jeux) taking second place. Moreau attempted to lead out his Caisse d’Epargne team-mate Ruben Plaza Molina, but the latter could only manage third. Armstrong was 6th, Moreau 8th. Barredo rolled over 28 seconds back, ruing his attempted 40km break for the line, which only just failed.

The main field came in 6′45, led over by the ever-combative Thor Hushovd (Cervelo). This was an exceptional ride from the big Norwegian; his ability to stay with the main field over very tough climbs marks him out as far more than just a hard-man sprinter of old. Hushovd deservingly re-took the green jersey from Alessandro Petacchi, who rolled over with a more traditional sprinter’s finishing time on a mountain stage – a full 35 minutes back.

Leader board after this stage:

Overall GC
Alberto Contador (Astana)

Points
Thor Hushovd (Cervelo)

King of the Mountains
Anthony Charteau (Bbox Bouygues Telecom)

Young Rider
Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank)

Tomorrow is a rest day, with Thursday the decisive stage: 174km from Pau to Col du Tourmalet. The second visit to the Tourmalet in three days culminates in a mountain-top finish. The winner of the 2010 Tour de France will be decided on that climb.