2011 FLASHBACK - Evans First Australian Winner

Aussie Evans win 2011 Tour

Mark Cavendish won the final stage of the Tour de France in Paris, becoming Britain's first winner of the green jersey for the race's best sprinter.

Manxman Cavendish, who has now won 20 stages of the race in his career, crossed the line first after a frenetic sprint finish on the Champs-Elysees.

"I've been trying to get the green jersey for the last few years, it is a special day," said the 26-year-old.

Cadel Evans took the yellow jersey to become Australia's first Tour winner.

The polka-dot jersey for the Tour's best climber went to Spain's Samuel Sanchez, while Frenchman Pierre Rolland was confirmed as the best young rider with the white jersey.

Welshman Geraint Thomas, who spent the first six days in white, finished 31st overall ensured him the honour of the top British rider in the general classification in his third Tour de France.

Cavendish had amassed 15 stage wins over his previous three Tours, but his failure to take green before this year had been been one factor in the organisers' decision to increase the rewards on offer at the end of each stages.

The Isle of Man cyclist finished with 334 points, while Spaniard Jose Joaquin Rojas was second with 272 and Belgian Philippe Gilbert had 236.

However, despite the relatively comfortable final margin of victory Cavendish was not assured of securing the green jersey until he won the final sprint.

If Rojas had won the stage then Cavendish would have needed to finish second or third to claim the jersey he so highly coveted.

"I've been incredibly lucky to have a group of team-mates who have been committed to me winning races and it has paid off," said the HTC Highroad cyclist.

"I can't stress how lucky I am, I couldn't do it alone. I'm super emotional, super happy."

Evans had assumed the lead in the overall standings from Leopard-Trek's Andy Schleck in Saturday's time trial and a flat 95km stage into Paris did not offer any opportunities to attack his advantage of one minute 34 seconds.

Cavendish had a less comfortable cushion in the green-jersey standings with 15 points seperating him from Rojas at the start of the final day.

Any hopes Rojas harboured of making early inroads on his rival were ruined however, as Slovenian Kristjan Koren led an unexpected six-man breakaway through the intermediate sprint to earn 20 points.

Cavendish was the first of the peloton over the line while team-mate Matt Goss held off Rojas to extend the Manxman's lead to 17 points.

With Team Sky's British rider Ben Swift playing a full role, the escapees pushed their lead up towards 45 seconds.

But the leading group disintegerated as Lars Bak, an HTC team-mate of Cavendish, pushed the pace, having previously been content to trail along on the back of the group.

Twenty Tour de France stage wins, five this year, three in a row in Paris and now, finally, one box-fresh green jersey: it's official, Mark Cavendish is the fastest sprinter on two wheels. He is also a massive star. In France. True fame has yet to come in the UK (with the honorable exception of his birthplace, the Isle of Man), but if he keeps pulling stunts like this one it will come eventually. With 30km to go on the Champs- Elysees, Cav was by the side of the road, changing his bike. As cool as a cucumber. Half an hour later, he was rolling through the line, arms outstretched, grinning from ear to ear. British rider David Millar has just told me Cavendish is Britain's greatest current sportsman. Hard to disagree on a day like this

The peloton mopped up the breakaway with two kilometres to go, just as the HTC Highroad team fell into formation behind.

A well-drilled procession followed with Cavendish breaking off the wheel of Australian lead-out Mark Renshaw with 170m to the finish.

Team Sky's Edvald Boasson Hagen came closest to overhauling Cavendish, but could not close to within less than a bike length.

Andre Griepel, Tyler Farrar and Fabian Cancellara completed the top five, with Rojas a distant 21st.

Cavendish's stage win followed successes on the Champs-Elysees in 2009 and 2010, making him first man to have won three final stages in succession since the legendary Belgian Eddy Merckx in 1972.

Evans, 34, finished 56th, well within the 150-strong group who clocked the same time behind Cavendish, to confirm himself as the oldest overall winner since the Second World War.

He is the first winner to wear the yellow jersey for only the last stage of the race since Greg LeMond's success in 1990.

STAGE 21 STANDINGS:

1 Mark Cavendish (GB/HTC-Highroad) 2hrs 27mins 02secs,

2 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor/Sky Procycling) at same time

3 Andre Greipel (Ger/Omega Pharma-Lotto)

4 Tyler Farrar (U.S./Team Garmin-Cervelo)

5 Fabian Cancellara (Swi/Leopard Trek)

6 Daniel Oss (Ita/Liquigas-Cannondale)

7 Borut Bozic (Slo/Vacansoleil-DCM)

8 Tomas Vaitkus (Lit Pro Team Astana)

9 Gerald Ciolek (Ger/Quickstep Cycling Team)

10 Jimmy Engoulvent (Fra/Saur - Sojasun)

OVERALL STANDINGS:

1 Cadel Evans (Aus/BMC) 86hrs 12mins 22secs

2 Andy Schleck (Lux/Leopard Trek) at 1min 34secs

3 Frank Schleck (Lux/Leopard Trek) at 2.30

4 Thomas Voeckler (Fra/Team Europcar) at 3.20

5 Alberto Contador (Spa/Saxo Bank Sungard) at 3.57

6 Samuel Sanchez (Spa/Euskaltel-Euskadi) at 4.55

7 Damiano Cunego (Ita/Lampre) at 6.05

8 Ivan Basso (Ita/Liquigas) at 7.23

9 Thomas Danielson (U.S./Garmin-Cervelo) at 8.15

10 Jean-Christophe Peraud (Fra/AG2R) at 10.11

Selected others:

31 Geraint Thomas (GB/Sky) at 1:00:48

76 David Millar (GB/Garmin-Cervelo) at 2:14.56

130 Mark Cavendish (GB/HTC-Highroad) at 3:15.05

137 Ben Swift (GB/Sky) at 3:18.07

OVERALL SPRINT STANDINGS:

1 Mark Cavendish (GB/HTC-Highroad) 334 points

2 Jose Joaquin Rojas (Spa/Movistar) 272

3 Philippe Gilbert (Bel/Omega Pharma-Lotto) 236

4 Cadel Evans (Aus/BMC) 208

5 Thor Hushovd (Nor/Garmin-Cervelo) 195

6 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor/Sky) 192

7 Andre Greipel (Ger/Omega Pharma-Lotto) 160

8 Tyler Farrar (U.S./Garmin-Cervelo) 127

9 Samuel Sanchez (Spa/Euskaltel-Euskadi) 105

10 Alberto Contador (Spa/Saxo Bank) 105

OVERALL BEST YOUNG RIDER STANDINGS:

1 Pierre Rolland (Fra/Europcar) 86hrs 23mins 05secs

2 Rein Taaramae (Est/Cofidis) at 0:46

3 Jerome Coppel (Fra/Saur - Sojasun) at 7:53

4 Arnold Jeannesson (Fra/FDJ) at 10:37

5 Rob Ruijgh (Ned/Vacansoleil) at 22:21

6 Rigoberto Uran Uran (Col/Sky) at 32:05

7 Geraint Thomas (GB/Sky) at 50:05

8 Robert Gesink (Ned/Rabobank) at 54:26

9 Cyril Gautier (Fra /Europcar) at 1:17:00

10 Andrey Zeits (Kaz/Astana) at 1:21:05

OVERALL MOUNTAINS CLASSIFICATIONS:

1 Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spa/Euskaltel) 108 points

2 Andy Schleck (Lux/Leopard Trek) 98

3 Jelle Vanendert (Bel/Omega Pharma-Lotto) 74

4 Cadel Evans (Aus/BMC) 58

5 Frank Schleck (Lux/Leopard Trek) 56

6 Alberto Contador (Spa/Saxo Bank) 51

7 Jeremy Roy (Fra/FDJ) 45

8 Pierre Rolland (Fra/Europcar) 44

9 Maxim Iglinskiy (Kaz/Astana) 40

10 Johnny Hoogerland (Ned/Vacansoleil-DCM) 40

Cadel Evans Too Strong in Grenoble

Cadel Evans is poised to become the first Australian winner of the Tour de France after a stunning performance in the individual time trial, the penultimate stage of this year's race.

Evans started the 42.5 kilometres course in Grenoble 57 seconds behind Andy Schleck, his chief rival for the yellow jersey, but beat him by over two and a half minutes to take an overall lead of one minute and 34 seconds into the largely ceremonial final day in Paris.

Evans has been second twice before in cycling's biggest race but he made no mistake when the chance of a first victory emerged.

He soon cut into Schleck's lead and was the virtual leader by the halfway stage before hammering home his advantage on the second part of the course.

Indeed Evans' time was good enough for second place on the day, with only Tony Martin (HTC-Highroad) bettering it to claim the stage win.

The German mirrored his victory on the same course during the Criterium du Dauphine in June, setting the fastest time through each intermediate split en route to his first Tour stage win.

Jubilation

Speaking after crossing the line, an overjoyed and relieved Evans said: “I’ve still got to cross the finish line in Paris tomorrow; that’s my main focus right now – getting through that without any trouble."

Often known as the 'nearly man' of cycling, the Australian looks set to finally lay that tag to rest after a number of previous near misses.

He added: “In 2007 Contador had a particularly good day in the time trial whereas I had an average day. I didn’t have a bad day but I think I was seventh.

"In 2008 I was injured, I was exhausted, I was so on my limit every day and that really showed up in the time trial when everyone expected me to win and take back the time [on Carlos Sastre].

“Today I went through the processes as we always do – follow the plan, do the best we can and see what we come up with. We were a few seconds short for the stage but when I have time to reflect on it I think I’ll see it as pretty special.”

The day also belonged to Martin, who rode an intelligent campaign through the Alps to ensure he had the legs to take one of the biggest wins of his career.

He said: "I wasn’t sure in the first few kilometres whether I was going to have a good time or not but as I got going I had a good feeling and my confidence grew.

"I won here last month over the same course in the Dauphine so I know it very well and I just tried to focus on my technique and rhythm. Knowing that I’d gone well here previously helped with all of that and I knew I’d be okay."

Decisive day

Despite tough trips through the Pyrenees and the Alps everything was still to play for on the penultimate stage.

Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank-Sungard) set out quickly despite a shaky moment on the start ramp, the Spaniard setting a strong pace throughout the course to take third place, 1:03 down on Martin, but good enough to propel him to fifth overall.

Despite losing the yellow jersey on Alpe-d'Huez on Friday, Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) had clearly not given up on securing a podium place.

The Frenchman was cheered along the course but despite the latest in a long line of gutsy rides, was forced to settle for fourth overall behind Frank Schleck (Leopard Trek).

There was better news for Voeckler's team-mate Pierre Rolland who delighted the home crowd by maintaining the white young rider's jersey following a tense battle with Estonian Rein Taaramae.

The battle for the green jersey will be decided on Sunday's final stage into Paris, with points on offer on the Champs-Elysees on a day that could see current leader Mark Cavendish (HTC-Highroad) write himself further into the history books.

Rolland Wins L'Alpe-d'Huez for Europcar

Pierre Rolland sent the French crowd into raptures by winning stage 19 of the Tour de France on L’Alpe-d’Huez after holding off the race's overall contenders.

The Europcar rider attacked on the final mountain climb of the Tour to hand the French their first stage victory of the race, as well as riding his way into the white young rider’s jersey.

Rolland held off the attentions of Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel) and Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank) at the line, winning by 14 seconds to confirm his place as the next top prospect in French cycling.

The battle for the yellow jersey was raging behind with Peter Velits (HTC-Highroad) leading home an elite group of six containing the overall contenders, with the exception of race-leader Thomas Voeckler (Europcar).

The stage saw Andy Schleck (Leopard Trek) move into yellow with two stages remaining, finishing on the same time as brother and team-mate Frank who moved into second place overall, 53 seconds down.

Cadel Evans (BMC Racing) worked hard throughout the day and sits third on the general classification, 57 seconds back to set up a tantalising penultimate stage time trial in Grenoble.

Contador made up time on his rivals to move up to sixth overall but was left to rue his time loss during the first week and on the Col du Galibier on Thursday.

Voeckler arrived at the line 3:22 down on the stage winner, his lengthy tenure in the leader’s jersey finally brought to an end after surviving the Pyrenees and up until the final climb of the Alps.

After the climb new leader Andy Schleck admitted he was happy to have claimed yellow, saying: "To be honest I didn’t feel in the best shape on the last climb but just had to keep my eye on Cadel Evans. On the first climb I went with Alberto Contador but I lost a bit of energy from that battle.

"I couldn’t follow him on Alpe d’Huez so I focussed on Cadel Evans and I’ve got the yellow jersey now so no regrets at all.

"They’ve all been difficult stages and today was no exception but I’m in yellow and that’s what matters. Tomorrow will be the final showdown. My condition is there, my legs feel good so I’m going to go all in."

Points battle

After the stage there was a tense wait for green jersey holder Mark Cavendish (HTC-Highroad) and the gruppetto with a 25:09 time cut to aim for.

The Manxman led a large group around the final corner but ultimately finished outside the cut by a tantalising 17 seconds.

Yet with main rival Jose Joaquin Rojas (Movistar) in attendance both riders were docked 20 points, meaning the Manxman maintained a 15-point lead in the classification ahead of the final sprint stage on the Champs-Elysees.

The fight for green was the final act in what had been a stunning day of action, culminating with a finish featuring incredible crowds as the riders made their way up the 23 hairpin turns of the most famous of Alpine climbs.

A relatively short stage at 109.5km always looked likely to be a punishing one but no one was prepared for an opening stanza which saw the race blown wide open.

Stunning start

There were warning signs of an attack as Chris Anker Sorensen (Saxo Bank-Sungard) moved up the road on the run-up to the first climb of the day.

Moments later team-mate Alberto Contador lit the blue touch paper by immediately attacking the field on the early ramps of the Col du Telegraphe with 92km to go.

Immediately the favourites were forced to react with the Schleck’s quickly into the wheel of the Spaniard while Evans and Voeckler were forced to put in a big effort to bridge across.

In scenes that mirrored the final kilometres of a race, Contador kicked again in a move that distanced Frank Schleck, with only Evans, Voeckler and Andy Schleck remaining.

Another punishing attack saw Evans and Voeckler finally distanced, Evans stopping completely with a bike problem on the steep ramps of the climb which required a change of machinery.

Epic battle

Voeckler was left to go it alone in no-man’s-land and eventually slid back into a vastly-depleted peloton mid-way up the Col du Galibier.

Three groups on the road came back together in a surprising turn of events at the foot of the final climb with 25km remaining.

Not content with one large attack during the stage, Contador kicked again with 12.5km, distancing his rivals as large crowds closed in on the roads.

Separate attacks from Rolland and Sanchez paid dividends, the Spaniard narrowly missing out on the stage win but moved into a now unassailable lead in the polka dot jersey standings.

A thrilled Rolland, beyond being whisked to the podium, said: "It was beautiful – I was given the chance to go for the victory today and it was perfect. I’ve been preparing for this Alpe d’Huez stage for the last six months in my mind.

"I was facing two Spanish riders at the end and I needed all the strategy I could have. I said to myself I’m not going to be second – I’m going to wait for my moment to attack and try and win this.

"When the line came into sight and I knew I was going to win, I couldn’t believe it. But I knew from the bottom of the climb that I had the potential and the condition to make the attack stick.

"I’ve seen this legendary stage from a young age it has meant so much to me. I can’t believe I’ve added my name to the list of winners."

Andy Schleck Makes His Break

Andy Schleck closed to within 15 seconds of the yellow jersey with an audacious breakaway victory on the Col du Galibier in the Tour de France.

Schleck was only denied the overall lead by a late surge up the climb from yellow jersey wearer Thomas Voeckler.

Leopard-Trek rider Schleck, runner-up in 2010, raced clear with 60km left on stage 18 to win from brother Frank.

Mark Cavendish was outside the time limit but escaped with a 20-point penalty to retain the green jersey.

An enthralling day's racing on the 100th anniversary of the Tour's first trip up the Col du Galibier has set up an intriguing climax as the riders head to Paris.

Schleck's brother Frank raced clear of the chasers in the closing stages to take second and is now 1:08 adrift in the overall standings, while noted time trialler Cadel Evans is 1:12 behind.

Friday's stage from Modane Valfrejus to Alpe-d'Huez is the final day in the mountains, and with such small margins currently separating the leading contenders, Saturday's individual time trial around Grenoble could prove decisive.

Isle of man sprint star Cavendish was amongst an 88-strong group who trailed in more than 35 minutes behind the stage winner, outside the margin normally required by race organisers.

However the backmarkers were spared elimination as officials made an allowance for the unusally high percentage of riders who strayed beyond the time limit on a brutal stage.

Cavendish's grip on the green jersey has been loosened with his lead over Jose Joaquin Rojas in the sprint standings down to 15 points following their alternative punishment.

Andy Schleck's hopes of securing the yellow jersey awarded to the race's overall leader last year were dented when eventual winner Alberto Contador exploited his jammed chain on the 15th stage.

But Schleck took revenge in emphatic style as he surged through the Tour's highest-ever finish 3:49 ahead of the demoralised Spaniard.

Four minutes 44 seconds, an improbable margin to recover over the three remaining stages, now separate Contador from a successful defence.

"Victory is impossible now. I had a bad day," said Spaniard.

"My legs did not respond and I suffered an incredible collapse. It was a very hard day from the start."

Schleck attacked on the way up the Col d'Izoard, with more than 60km left to the finish, and quickly put two minutes into the peloton, with no immediate response from Contador, Evans or Voeckler.

With older brother Frank marking the other main contenders, Schleck received help from Leopard-Trek team-mates Joost Posthuma and Maxime Monfort.

The huge stakes involved in his gamble became clear as he established himself as the yellow jersey 'on the road', but facing a draining 20km climb to the safety of the finish.

At one point he increased his lead beyond four minutes but Evans led a fightback on the climb up the Galibier.

As Schelck tired the chasing group cut the gap enough to enable Voeckler, who was happy to sit in Evans's wheel for most of the climb, to retain the yellow jersey once again.

The expected strike from Contador, who had been dutifully marked by Frank Schleck up the mountain, never came as he slipped off the back of the chasing group in the last two kilometres.

STAGE 18 RESULT

1. Andy Schleck (Lux/ Leopard Trek) 6hrs 07mins 56secs"

2. Frank Schleck (Lux /Leopard Trek) +2:07"

3. Cadel Evans (Aus /BMC) +2:15"

4. Ivan Basso (Ita/Liquigas) +2:18"

5. Thomas Voeckler (Fra/Europcar) +2:21"

6. Pierre Rolland (Fra/Europcar) +2:27"

7. Damiano Cunego (Ita/Lampre) +2:33"

8. Rein Taaramae (Est/Cofidis) +3:22"

9. Tom Danielson (U.S. / Garmin) +3:25"

10. Ryder Hesjedal (Can/Garmin) +3:31"

OVERALL STANDINGS

1. Thomas Voeckler (Fra/Europcar) 79hrs 34mins 06secs"

2. Andy Schleck (Lux/Leopard Trek) +15"

3. Frank Schleck (Lux/ Leopard Trek) +1:08"

4. Cadel Evans (Aus/BMC Racing) +1:12"

5. Damiano Cunego (Ita/Lampre) +3:46"

6. Ivan Basso (Ita/Liquigas) at same time

7. Alberto Contador (Spa/Saxo Bank) +4:44"

8. Samuel Dumoulin (Fra/Cofidis) +5:20"

9. Tom Danielson (U.S./Garmin) +7:08"

10. Jean Christophe Peraud (Fra/AG2R) +9:27"

Boasson Wins a Second Stage

Edvald Boasson Hagen won his and Team Sky's second stage of the 2011 Tour de France with a superb solo attack near the end of the 17th stage from Gap to Pinerolo.

The 24-year-old Norwegian, runner-up to compatriot Thor Hushovd (Garmin-Cervelo) 24 hours earlier, worked himself into a 14-man escape group on the 179-kilometre route as the Tour headed into Italy.

Boasson Hagen, who won stage six for Team Sky's first Tour stage success, made the decisive attack on the day's final climb with 11km remaining, jumping past Sylvain Chavanel (Quick Step) and soon distancing all his rivals.

He reached the summit of the Cote de Pramartino with a lead of around 20 seconds and fearlessly negotiated the 8km descent to win from Bauke Mollema (Rabobank), who was 40 seconds behind in second, with Sandy Casar (FDJ) third, 10 seconds further back.

Saur-Sojasun's Jonathan Hivert had been Boasson Hagen's closest pursuer but he tumbled on the descent and then lost control further down, entering a roadside driveway.

Voeckler sees GC advantage cut

Behind that drama, the absorbing battle for overall glory continued as reigning champion Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank-Sungard) attacked for the second day running on the final climb, taking Andy Schleck (Leopard Trek), yellow jersey holder Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) and others, including Cadel Evans (BMC Racing) and Ivan Basso (Liquigas), with him.

However this time the initial acceleration achieved little so Contador made another burst, seeking to eat into his rivals' advantage on the descent, as Boasson Hagen celebrated victory.

Contador followed compatriot Samuel Sanchez's (Euskaltel-Euskadi) wheel, but their overall rivals caught up in the finale to finish on the same time with the exception of Voeckler who lost 27 seconds after visiting the same roadside driveway as Hivert on the descent.

Voeckler said: "Three times I went wide on a corner and the third time I was very, very lucky because I had to jump down a step that was about a meter high. I lost time and if I'd been more calm, I could have finished with the favourites but I was a little bit too ambitious."

The latest standings see Voeckler's general classification lead over Evans trimmed to one minute and 18 seconds, with Frank Schleck at 1:22, Andy Schleck at 2:26, Sanchez 2:59 back and Contador at 3:15.

Meanwhile Mark Cavendish (HTC-Highroad) extended his lead in the points classification by one by being the first rider across the line from the peloton, which did not contest the intermediate sprint.

Cavendish, the green jersey incumbent, rolled over the line ahead of team-mate Bernhard Eisel, to move 35 points clear of Jose Joaquin Rojas (Movistar).

The 26-year-old from the Isle of Man now has 320 points, with Rojas second on 285 and Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto) third on 250.

The stage belonged to Boasson Hagen however and he said: “It was a really great day today. I felt a bit disappointed yesterday to not win. I really wanted the win today and I really tried to get into the break. My team-mates did a great job to help me get into it.

"It was really hard to get away in the group as riders were chasing behind. Finally we made it away and I was feeling great the whole day.

"I really wanted to win so I got some extra power from that and also from all the Norwegian fans out on the course. It’s so nice to win.

"We did the route in training earlier on this year and I was thinking about this stage. I had a plan and everything was perfect.

"The race goes into some really hard stages now so I will try to save my legs for the time trial (on Saturday)."

Thursday's 18th stage sees the Tour return to France from Pinerolo to Galibier Serre-Chevalier - the highest finish in the race's history at 2,645m - and presents an opportunity for the overall favourites to attack once more.

Voeckler expects to be overtaken in the race lead.

He said: "My climbing has been good but I don't think it's good enough for tomorrow. A 6km climb is a lot different to a 35km one."

Hushovd Edges Boasson in Stage 16

Hushovd claims second stage

World champion Thor Hushovd claimed his second individual stage win of the 2011 Tour de France when edging out fellow Norwegian Edvald Boasson Hagen to win a dramatic 16th stage in Gap - but just as significant was the eclipse of overall favourite Andy Schleck.

Following Monday's rest day, the Tour began the final six days of racing with a 162.5-kilometre 16th stage from Saint-Paul-Trois-Chateaux to Gap - a transitional route before the Alpine ascents which will decide who will stand on top of the podium in Paris on Sunday.

A 10-man breakaway was established after 90km and Hushovd broke clear along with Garmin-Cervelo team-mate Ryder Hesjedal and Team Sky's Boasson Hagen.

Hushovd, who won last Friday's stage to Lourdes and also the team time trial, received help in the finale from Hesjedal to beat his compatriot Boasson Hagen to the line.

But that only told half the story as there was unexpected drama in behind from the overall contenders which was sparked by an attack from Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank-Sungard) on the day's one climb, the category two rated Col de Manse, which came in the final 20km.

Cadel Evans (BMC Racing) was able to respond and actually crossed the line three seconds ahead of Contador but it was a nightmare day for Andy Schleck (Leopard Trek) whose hopes suffered a huge blow as he lost over a minute.

Evans, Hushovd's predecessor as world champion, moved up to second overall, one minute 45 seconds behind Thomas Voeckler (Europcar), who retained the race leader's yellow jersey.

Frank Schleck is 1:49 back in third but Andy Schleck is now trailing by 3:03 after crossing the line in 36th.

Contador is moving in the opposite direction after finishing 12th to climb to sixth overall, 3:42 back.

The reaction afterwards was understandably contrasting, Contador saying: "I had a very clear idea, which was to attack, and I knew somebody could get dropped and at the end of it all it came off better than I thought.

"It's not a result which makes me feel euphoric, but the good news is that my legs are feeling stronger.

"There are three more mountain stages to come and I will have to try to make the most of them."

Evans also came out of it well and said: "It was a good little move and a good day for me. My teammates got me in the perfect position for that final climb and it worked out well."

Andy Schleck meanwhile was left to play down his losses, saying: "I'm pretty disappointed but I don't think it means much. My shape is good and I'm going to show that again in the coming days."

However he was unhappy with the nature of the finish on stage 16, adding: He said: "I think the parcours was badly chosen today, a race decided on a downhill. We don't want to see riders crashing or taking risks, a finish like this should not be allowed."

Meanwhile Mark Cavendish (HTC-Highroad) retained the points classification leader's green jersey.

Cavendish did not collect any points today, but his main challengers for the maillot vert, Jose Joaquin Rojas (Movistar) and Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto) claimed just three and two points respectively at the finish in Gap.

The 26-year-old from the Isle of Man now leads by 34 points from Rojas and 69 from Gilbert.

Asked by French television if he thinks he has already won the green jersey, the 26-year-old from the Isle of Man said: "Yes, I think so.

"I'm just going to have to suffer the next three days and try and save some energy. The Tour organisers have changed the rules and the points system this year. If you win a lot of stages you will get the green jersey."

Cavendish Adds Another Stage win

Cavendish wins Stage 15

Mark Cavendish sprinted to victory on stage 15 of the Tour de France to stamp his authority on the green jersey standings.

The Manxman held on to take his fourth stage win of the race and 19th in total at the Tour after edging out Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Cervelo) and Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre-ISD) in Montpellier.

The 26-year-old extended his lead in the points classification after taking maximum points at the finish and besting his rivals at the intermediate sprint, bouncing back convincingly from an energy-sapping trip through the Pyrenees.

Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto) tried to spring a surprise on his rivals two kilometres from home but was swept up by a determined lead-out train from Cavendish’s HTC-Highroad squad.

At the finish a thrilled Cavendish said: "I can't let the guys down when they ride like that, they were incredible again.

"They were on the front all day. The first half of the stage we worked with Europcar, who were also riding really strong, and then in the second half we were on our own."

As usual the sprinter was full of praise for his team, adding: "The guys are motorbikes, they're incredible. I thought they might have been a bit tired after waiting for me and pulling like they did yesterday but I think the fact that we got through yestreday's stage like we did made today even more special.

"It was a difficult, technical finish, made even harder by the wind. But we just kept together. They're an amazing group of guys and I'm so, so proud of them."

Wind worries

Despite what looked on paper like a straightforward sprint stage the race’s main contenders were forced to be vigilant due to the constant threat of cross-winds and echelons.

Yet as wind whipped the peloton from different directions nervous teams opted to hold station rather than chance an attack in the blustery conditions, fanning out across the road to better position their leaders.

Thomas Voeckler and his Europcar squad were afforded a relative day off from controlling duties as the Frenchman’s dream Tour continued in the yellow jersey.

HTC-Highroad made life easier for the French squad on the run-in, with Cavendish's team-mate Mark Renshaw admitting: "It was very much a team effort, we've got an extraordinarily strong team here this year.

"Lars Bak and Danny Pate did an amazing amount of work today and without them it wouldn't have been a bunch sprint.

"Everyone loves working for Cav; he's a great character, one of the biggest in the peloton."

Transition stage

For the second day in succession an attack moved clear almost instantly as five men headed up the road as the peloton rolled out of Limoux.

The quintet quickly built up an advantage but were not allowed to gain over four minutes on a day that saw the sprinters’ teams determined to have their say.

HTC-Highroad were quick to put numbers on the front of the bunch to peg back the escapees, the team happy to take up the chase on a stage always likely to be crucial in the fight for the prestigious green jersey.

The wind gave the bunch a scare early on with peloton splitting briefly as the race passed through Carcassonne in a move that saw Thor Hushovd (Garmin-Cervelo) temporarily distanced.

With 60km to go the BMC and Leopard Trek moved to the head of affairs as predicted in support of Cadel Evans and the Schleck brothers respectively.

The breakaway soaked up the big points at the day’s intermediate sprint in Montagnac with Mickael Delage (FDJ) taking 20 points.

Back in the bunch the fight was on 10 points with HTC-Highroad leading out Mark Cavendish who edged out his two rivals Jose Joaquin Rojas (Movistar) and Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto) in the sprint.

Mikhail Ignatiev (Katusha) and Niki Terpstra (Quick Step) surprised no one by attacking their counterparts in the break with 22km to go and linked up well before Terpstra kicked for home.

The Dutchman took advantage of a twisty finish, as did Gilbert who broke clear briefly as the road ramped up in a desperate attempt to score points.

The race now heads into a rest day on Monday before four gruelling stages in the Alps which will likely decide the race.

General Classification