Tour de France - report stage 16

Cyril Dessel (AG2R) wins over the highest road in France as Denis Menchov (Rabobank) loses time on the GC.

Andy Schleck lead the yellow jersey group over the Cime de la Bonette-Restefond - Pic fotoreporter sirotti

The Cime de la Bonette-Restefond is an evil climb - Pic fotoreporter sirotti

Stefan Scumacher (Gerolsteiner) rode alone toward the top of the massive Cime de la Bonette-Restefond, the highest road in France. He was chased down by a group spearheaded by Cyril Dessel and the German was caught short of the summit. First over was John Lee Augustyn (Barloworld), but he was to crash on the decsent and have to scramble up the barren slopes to regain the road, sans bike.

Flying into Jausiers, David Arroyo (Caisse d'Epargne) attacked from a man lead group and he was overtaken after the one kilometre to go flag by Desselwho took the win.

Behind the race for the stage, the main contenders on GC were also blitzing down the mountain, well not quite all, all except Menchov who lost over two minutes to the yellow jersey.

Previously on the summit the leaders on GC seemed to be looking each other and after a magnificent display of team work by CSC/Saxo Bank Frank Schleck had been delivered to the top without anyone being able to isolate and attack him.

CSC/Saxo had set teh pace all day and when riders peeled off on the final climb, they were replaced by team members moving back from the earlier breakaway. Class.

There is no change on the top three on GC with biggest losers being Menchove and Christain Vandevelde (Garmin).

1 Cyril Dessel 101 Ag2r-La Mondiale 4h 31' 27"
2 Sandy Casar 161 Francaise Des Jeux 4h 31' 27" @ 00' 00"
3 David Arroyo 32 Caisse d'Epargne 4h 31' 27" @ 00' 00"
4 Yaroslav Popovych 7 Silence - Lotto 4h 31' 30" @ 00' 03"
5 George Hincapie 47 Team Columbia 4h 31' 51" @ 00' 24"
6 Nicolas Portal 38 Caisse d'Epargne 4h 31' 51" @ 00' 24"
7 Tadej Valjavec 109 Ag2r-La Mondiale 4h 31' 51" @ 00' 24"
8 Stefan Schumacher 111 Gerolsteiner 4h 32' 30" @ 01' 03"
9 Andy Schleck 16 Team CSC Saxo Bank 4h 32' 55" @ 01' 28"
10 Bernhard Kohl 115 Gerolsteiner 4h 32' 55" @ 01' 28"
11 Cadel Evans 1 Silence - Lotto 4h 32' 55" @ 01' 28"
12 Frank Schleck 17 Team CSC Saxo Bank 4h 32' 55" @ 01' 28"
13 Alejandro Valverde 31 Caisse d'Epargne 4h 32' 55" @ 01' 28"
14 Damiano Cunego 71 Lampre 4h 32' 55" @ 01' 28"
15 Carlos Sastre 11 Team CSC Saxo Bank 4h 32' 55" @ 01' 28"
16 Johann Tschopp 148 Bouygues Telecom 4h 32' 55" @ 01' 28"
17 Samuel Sanchez 27 Euskaltel - Euskadi 4h 32' 59" @ 01' 32"
18 Konstantsin Siutsou 49 Team Columbia 4h 32' 59" @ 01' 32"
19 Kim Kirchen 41 Team Columbia 4h 33' 30" @ 02' 03"
20 Sylvester Szmyd 78 Lampre 4h 33' 30" @ 02' 03"
21 Denis Menchov 131 Rabobank 4h 33' 30" @ 02' 03"
25 Roman Kreuziger 65 Liquigas 4h 35' 31" @ 04' 04"
26 Christian Vandevelde 191 Garmin Chipotle 4h 35' 31" @ 04' 04"
33 Vincenzo Nibali 67 Liquigas 4h 36' 40" @ 05' 13"

General Classification (Yellow jersey)
1 Frank Schleck 17 Team CSC Saxo Bank 68h 30' 16"
2 Bernhard Kohl 115 Gerolsteiner 68h 30' 23" @ 00' 07"
3 Cadel Evans 1 Silence - Lotto 68h 30' 24" @ 00' 08"
4 Carlos Sastre 11 Team CSC Saxo Bank 68h 31' 05" @ 00' 49"
5 Denis Menchov 131 Rabobank 68h 31' 29" @ 01' 13"
6 Christian Vandevelde 191 Garmin Chipotle 68h 33' 31" @ 03' 15"
7 Kim Kirchen 41 Team Columbia 68h 33' 39" @ 03' 23"
8 Alejandro Valverde 31 Caisse d'Epargne 68h 34' 27" @ 04' 11"
9 Samuel Sanchez 27 Euskaltel - Euskadi 68h 34' 54" @ 04' 38"
10 Tadej Valjavec 109 Ag2r-La Mondiale 68h 35' 39" @ 05' 23"
11 Vladimir Efimkin 104 Ag2r-La Mondiale 68h 36' 54" @ 06' 38"
12 Damiano Cunego 71 Lampre 68h 37' 59" @ 07' 43"
13 Mikel Astarloza 22 Euskaltel - Euskadi 68h 38' 19" @ 08' 03"
14 Andy Schleck 16 Team CSC Saxo Bank 68h 39' 17" @ 09' 01"
15 Vincenzo Nibali 67 Liquigas 68h 39' 23" @ 09' 07"
16 Roman Kreuziger 65 Liquigas 68h 40' 07" @ 09' 51"
17 Maxime Monfort 189 Cofidis Credit Par Telephone 68h 41' 35" @ 11' 19"
18 Sandy Casar 161 Francaise Des Jeux 68h 42' 48" @ 12' 32"
19 Alexandre Botcharov 83 Credit Agricole 68h 47' 05" @ 16' 49"
20 Laurens Ten Dam 138 Rabobank 68h 48' 00" @ 17' 44"

Sprint (Green jersey)
1 Oscar Freire 133 Rabobank 219 Pts
2 Thor Hushovd 81 Credit Agricole 172 Pts
3 Erik Zabel 151 Team Milram 167 Pts
4 Kim Kirchen 41 Team Columbia 145 Pts
5 Leonardo Duque 186 Cofidis Credit Par Telephone 137 pts
6 Alejandro Valverde 31 Caisse d'Epargne 110 Pts
7 Robert Hunter 58 Barloworld 110 Pts
8 Robbie McEwen 6 Silence - Lotto 105 pts
9 Romain Feillu 124 Agritubel 94 Pts
10 Cadel Evans 1 Silence - Lotto 84 pts

Mountains (Polka Dot jersey)
1 Bernhard Kohl 115 Gerolsteiner 85 Pts
2 Sebastian Lang 117 Gerolsteiner 60 Pts
3 Thomas Voeckler 149 Bouygues Telecom 55 Pts
4 John-Lee Augustyn 52 Barloworld 53 Pts
5 Egoi Martinez 24 Euskaltel - Euskadi 50 pts
6 Simon Gerrans 86 Credit Agricole 50 Pts
7 Yaroslav Popovych 7 Silence - Lotto 49 pts
8 Frank Schleck 17 Team CSC Saxo Bank 46 pts
9 Cyril Dessel 101 Ag2r-La Mondiale 44 Pts
10 Jose Luis Arrieta 102 Ag2r-La Mondiale 40 Pts