Pierrick Fedrigo (Bbox Bouygues Telecom) held his nerve to outsprint his eight fellow breakaway companions in Pau after a big day of climbing in the Pyrenees.
The former French champion had the zip and timing to take the Tour de France's sixteenth stage, ahead of the likes of more experienced and decorated fellow escapees such as Lance Armstrong, Damiano Cunego and Christophe Moreau.
Pyrenean punishment
The 199.5km route encompassed four legendary Pyrenean climbs, the Peyresourde, Aspin, Tourmalet and Aubisque, before a 60-kilometre descent into the finish at Pau.
Team Sky man Bradley Wiggins joined the likes of Lance Armstrong and polka-dot jersey Anthony Charteau in the day's original sizeable escape group over the Peyresourde.
However, with the likes of top-ten riders Alexandre Vinokourov and Ryder Hesjedal also among them, the break was brought to heel.
Only over the third climb, the Col du Tourmalet, did a big-name ten man group solidify and slip away. It consisted of Lance Armstrong, Chris Horner (Team RadioShack), Damiano Cunego (Lampre), Sandy Casar (Francaise des Jeux), Ignatas Konovalovas (Cervelo Test Team), Jurgen van de Walle, Carlos Barredo (Quick Step), Pierrick Fedrigo (Bbox Bouygues Telecom) and Caisse d'Epargne pair Ruben Plaza and Christophe Moreau.
Under pressure from Armstrong and Barredo, the group split halfway up the Aubsique before reforming nearer the top. Only Konovalovas was permanently distanced.
Back in the bunch, Astana were content to tap out a steady pace over the day's last two climb, allowing the advantage to slip up to nine minutes.
After yesterday's drama, the favourites chose to hold fire, as the long run-in to the finish after the four Pyrenean ascents dissuaded any meaningful attack.
Barredo's brave bid
Carlos Barredo attacked the breakaway on the descent of the Aubisque, and his brave solo bid looked like it had the legs; at one point, he held a lead of 50 seconds.
However, the Spaniard was visibily slowing inside the last five kilometres, and his eight former companions timed the chase right, reprising him under the flamme rouge.
In the tense final sprint, Fedrigo judged it just right. Coming from five back, he capitalised on the leadout work from the Caisse d'Epargne pair, flying down the inside to beat compatriot and recent stage winner Sandy Casar and Ruben Plaza.
In search of a valedictory win, Lance Armstrong could only manage sixth place, finishing alongside teammate Chris Horner.
It is France's sixth win of the race. The Pyrenees are also proving a very happy hunting ground for former French champion Fedrigo, who won in St-Gaudens last year after riding over the Aspin and Tourmalet at the head of the race.
Meanwhile, the peloton, led in by Thor Hushovd (Cervelo), finished just under seven minutes down.
The heavy-set Norwegian's reward for sticking with the bunch over the Pyrenean climbs is a return to the green jersey. He now leads Alessandro Petacchi by four points.
A pause in Pau
Tomorrow sees a rest day in Pau before a hotly-anticipated final day in the mountains.
Starting in Pau, stage seventeen takes in the Marie-Blanque and Soulor before finishing on the Col du Tourmalet.
RESULTS
Tour de France, stage 16: Bagneres-de-Luchon - Pau
1. Pierrick Fedrigo (Fra) Bbox Bouygues Telecom 5-31-43
2. Sandy Casar (Fra) Francaise des Jeux
3. Ruben Plaza (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne
4. Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre-Farnese
5. Chris Horner (Usa) Team RadioShack
6. Lance Armstrong (Usa) Team RadioShack
7. Jurgen Van de Walle (Bel) Quick Step
8. Christophe Moreau (Fra) Caisse d'Epargne all at same time
9. Carlos Barredo (Spa) Quick Step at 28secs
10. Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo at 6-45
Others
13. Nicolas Roche (Irl) Ag2r-La Mondiale
21. Andy Schleck (Lux) Saxo Bank
22. Alberto Contador (Spa) Astana
43. Bradley Wiggins (GB) Team Sky
56. Geraint Thomas (GB) Team Sky all same time
114. Daniel Lloyd (GB) Cervelo at 34-48
115. Mark Cavendish (GB) HTC-Columbia
125. Steve Cummings (GB) Team Sky
170. David Millar (GB) Garmin-Transitions
172. Jeremy Hunt (GB) Cervelo all same time
General classification after stage 16
1. Alberto Contador (Spa) Astana 78-29-10
2. Andy Schleck (Lux) Saxo Bank at 8secs
3. Samuel Sanchez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi at 2-00
4. Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank at 2-13
5. Jurgen van den Broeck (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto at 3-39
6. Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank at 5-01
7. Levi Leipheimer (Usa) Team RadioShack at 5-25
8. Joaquim Rodriguez (Spa) Katusha at 5-45
9. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana at 7-12
10. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin-Transitions at 7-51
Others
18. Nicolas Roche (Irl) Ag2r-La Mondiale at 12-34
21. Bradley Wiggins (GB) Team Sky at 17-44
25. Lance Armstrong (USA) Team RadioShack at 33-46
60. Geraint Thomas (GB) Team Sky at 1-33-12
152. Steve Cummings (GB) Team Sky at 3-15-21
154. Mark Cavendish (GB) HTC-Columbia at 3-17-46
159. David Millar (GB) Garmin-Transitions at 3-25-22
163. Daniel Lloyd (GB) Cervelo at 3-27-48
165. Jeremy Hunt (GB) Cervelo at 3-30-01
Points classification: Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo Test Team
Mountains classification: Anthony Charteau (Fra) Bbox Bouygues Telecom
Young rider: Andy Schleck (Lux) Saxo Bank
Team: RadioShack
Col du Tourmalet
Lance Armstrong heads escape group
Carlos Barredo goes solo
Pierrick Fedrigo takes the sprint win from the escape group
Tour de France 2010: Latest news
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Wiggins at 2010 Tour: "I haven't got it"
Basso wins Tour's acceptance; podium spot next goal
Contador versus Schleck: A game of seconds
Can Cav win without Renshaw?
Hesjedal pushing his way to the Tour's top
Renshaw disqualification overshadows Cavendish's win
Charly Wegelius pulls out of Tour
Did Armstrong own a stake in Tailwind Sports, or not?
Cavendish in a 'must win' situation for Tour's green jersey
Millar rides through pain barrier to make time cut
Roche alongside Tour's top men ahead of Pyrenees
Wiggins to aim for Tour de France stage win?
Dan Lloyd battles on in Tour despite groin strain
Tour de France 2010: Stage reports
Stage 15: Victorious Voeckler continues fine Franch Tour as Contador takes yellow jersey
Stage 14: Riblon hangs on in Pyrenees to give France fourth stage win
Stage 13: Vino returns to top of Tour after doping ban
Stage 12: Rodriguez wins as Contador attacks
Stage 11: Cavendish bags third stage win but lead out man kicked out of Tour
Stage 10: Cavendish bags third stage win but his lead-out man is kicked out of race
Stage 10: Paulinho claims narrow stage victory on Bastille day
Stage nine: Casar wins stage as Schleck and Contador go head-to-head
Stage seven: Chavanel wins stage and takes overall as Thomas drops out of Tour's white
Stage six: Cavendish makes it two as Tour hots up
Stage five: Cavendish wins his first stage of Tour
Stage four: Petacchi wins into Reims
Stage three: Hushovd takes dramatic win; Thomas second on stage and GC
Stage three live coverage: As it happened
Stage two: Comeback man Chavanel takes victory in Spa
Stage one: Petacchi wins in Brussels as bunch left in tatters
Prologue: Cancellara pips Martin to win
Tour de France 2010: Photos
Stage 15 photo gallery
Stage 14 photo gallery
Stage 13 photo gallery
Stage 12 photo gallery
Stage 11 photo gallery
Stage 10 photo gallery
Stage nine photo gallery
Stage eight photo gallery
Tour 2010 wallpaper
Stage seven photo gallery
Stage six photo gallery
Stage five photo gallery
Stage four photo gallery
Stage three photo gallery
Stage two photo gallery
Stage one gallery
Prologue photo gallery
Tour de France 2010: Videos
Stage 15 video highlights
Stage 14 video highlights
Stage 13 video highlights
Stage 12 video highlights
Stage 11 video highlights
Stage 10 video highlights
Stage nine video highlights
Stage eight video highlights
Stage seven video highlights
Stage six video highlights
Stage five video highlights
Stage four video highlights
Stage three video highlights
Stage two video highlights
Stage one video highlights
Prologue video highlights
Tour de France 2010: Race guide
Tour de France 2010: Cycling Weekly's coverage index
Official start list, with race numbers
Brits at the Tour 2010
Tout team guide
Tour jerseys: What they are and what they mean
Brits in the Tours: From Robinson to Wiggins
Tour de France 2010: Pictures
Tour team presentation, Rotterdam
Tour teams take to the cobbles: Photo special
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