Fédrigo sees off Armstrong

Pierrick Fédrigo outsprinted his breakaway companions to take stage 16 of the Tour de France in Pau.

An elite breakaway group - including Lance Armstrong and Bradley Wiggins - had gone clear early on in a testing day from Bagnères-de-Luchon.

But by the ascent of the Col du Tourmalet, the highest point of this year's race, they had been caught and a new nine-man group had formed, with seven-time winner Armstrong again in the mix as he aimed for a fairytale stage victory on his final Tour de France.

After climbing the Tourmalet, which features twice on the 2010 route in celebration of 100 years since the Tour's first visit to the Pyrenees, it was on to the Col d'Aubisque and soon after that Carlos Barredo (Quick-Step) launched a solo attack 15km into the 60km descent into Pau.

It so nearly succeeded but the eight men behind him finally caught him with the flamme rouge in sight to set up a sprint finish.

Bbox - Bouygues rider Fédrigo proved strongest to notch yet another win for France, edging out compatriot Sandy Casar (FDJ) and Rubén Plaza (Casse d'Epargne).

RadioShack's Armstrong had to settle for sixth but it was a gallant ride from the 38-year-old.

Gracious in defeat afterwards, he said: "I focused on the stage, tried to get up in the moves and it didn't work - I wasn't fast enough in the end.

"Fedrigo's very fast and he deserved to win."

Barredo's effort took its toll and he was 28 seconds back in ninth when the line came, with the main peloton 6:45 adrift of the winner.

That meant no major changes on the general classification, with reigning champion Alberto Contador taking an eight seconds lead over Andy Schleck into Wednesday's rest day.

However there was a significant move on the points classification, with Cervélo's Thor Hushovd reclaiming the green jersey from Alessandro Petacchi thanks to his tenth-placed finish.

Great moment

Afterwards a delighted Fédrigo said: "This is my best-ever day on the bike, it's a great moment.

"It wasn't easy but I attacked at the base of the Tourmalet and just kept going all the way to the sprint finish."

Stage 16 result:

1 - Pierrick Fédrigo - (FRA) - Bbox-Bouygues - (5:31:43)
2 - Sandy Casar - (FRA) - FDJ - (same time)
3 - Rubén Plaza - (ESP) - Caisse d'Epargne - (same time)
4 - Damiano Cunego - (ITA) - Lampre - (same time)
5 - Chris Horner - (USA) - RadioShack - (same time)
6 - Lance Armstrong - (USA) - RadioShack - (same time)
7 - Jurgen Van de Walle - (BEL) - Quick-Step - (same time)
8 - Christophe Moreau - (FRA) - Caisse d'Epargne - (same time)
9 - Carlos Barredo - (ESP) - Quick-Step - (+28)
10 - Thor Hushovd - (NOR) - Cervélo - (+6:45)

Overall standings:

1 - Alberto Contador - (ESP) - Astana - (78:29:10)
2 - Andy Schleck - (LUX) - Saxo Bank - (+8)
3 - Samuel Sánchez - (ESP) - Euskaltel - (+2:00)
4 - Denis Menchov - (RUS) - Rabobank - (+2:13)
5 - Jurgen Van den Broeck - (BEL) - Omega Pharma-Lotto - (+3:39)
6 - Robert Gesink - (NED) - Rabobank - (+5:01)
7 - Levi Leipheimer - (USA) - RadioShack - (+5:25)
8 - Joaquim Rodríguez - (ESP) - Katyusha - (+5:45)
9 - Alexandre Vinokourov - (KAZ) - Astana - (+7:12)
10 - Ryder Hesjedal - (CAN) - Garmin - (+7:51)