Frenchman Cyril Dessel gave the home fans something to cheer in the Tour de France, winning the 16th stage from Cuneo to Jausiers.
Frenchman takes stage but Schleck fails to extend his overall lead
Frenchman Cyril Dessel gave the home fans something to cheer in the Tour de France, winning the 16th stage from Cuneo to Jausiers.
The AG2r-La Mondiale rider pipped compatriot Sandy Casar in the closing stages with Spain's David Arroyo of Caisse d'Epargne in third.
Frank Schleck retained the yellow jersey but was unable to extend his lead to nearest rival Bernard Kohl, the pair finishing ninth and 10th respectively.
Tour favourite Cadel Evans was just behind in the same time, meaning just eight seconds cover the top three heading into the final stage in the Alps, a 210.5km ride from Embrun to L'Alpe-d'Huez on Wednesday.
Storming Schumacher
With the Tour back in action after a rest day, German Stefan Schumacher broke away on his own on the Col de la Lombarde, at one stage holding a 12-minute lead on the peleton.
Dessel was among a group of riders that eventually reeled in the Gerolsteiner man with 27km to go and then led a breakaway group of four into the downhill finish that completed the 157km ride.
Schleck was the first of the main contenders, including his CSC team-mate Carlos Sastre, who is fourth overall 49 seconds back, to finish.
However, the news was not so good for two other big names - Rabobank's Dennis Menchov and Christian Vande Velde of the Garmin-Chipotle team.
Menchov was dropped by the other favourites on the descent of the Cime de la Bonette-Restefond, the highest point on this year's Tour at 2,802 metres.
He ended up losing 35 seconds in the overall standings while Vande Velde now finds himself over three minutes back of the current incumbent in the yellow jersey.
Stage result:1. Cyril Dessel (France/AG2R) 4hrs 31mins 27secs"
2. Sandy Casar (France/Francaise des Jeux) Same time
3. David Arroyo (Spain/Caisse d'Epargne )
4. Yaroslav Popovych (Ukraine/Silence - Lotto) +3"
5. George Hincapie (US/Columbia) +24"
6. Nicolas Portal (France/Caisse d'Epargne)
7. Tadej Valjavec (Slovenia/AG2R)
8. Stefan Schumacher (Germany/Gerolsteiner) +1:03"
9. Andy Schleck (Luxembourg/Team CSC) +1:28"
10. Bernhard Kohl (Austria/Gerolsteiner )
11. Cadel Evans (Australia/Silence - Lotto)
12. Frank Schleck (Luxembourg/Team CSC)
13. Alejandro Valverde (Spain/Caisse d'Epargne)
14. Damiano Cunego (Italy/Lampre)
15. Carlos Sastre (Spain/Team CSC)
Overall standings:1. Frank Schleck (Luxembourg/Team CSC) 68hrs 30mins 16secs"
2. Bernhard Kohl (Austria/Gerolsteiner) +7"
3. Cadel Evans (Australia/Silence - Lotto) +8"
4. Carlos Sastre (Spain/Team CSC) +49"
5. Denis Menchov (Russia/Rabobank) +1:13"
6. Christian Vande Velde (U.S./Garmin - Chipotle) +3:15"
7. Kim Kirchen (Luxembourg/Columbia) +3:23"
8. Alejandro Valverde (Spain/Caisse d'Epargne) +4:11"
9. Samuel Sanchez (Spain/Euskaltel) +4:38"
10. Tadej Valjavec (Slovenia/AG2R) +5:23"
