Riblon holds on in the Pyrenees to give France a fourth stage win
Tour de France 2010, stage 14 photo gallery by Graham Watson>>
Christophe Riblon gave France their fourth stage win of the Tour de France when he held on to win at Ax-3-Domaines.
The AG2R rider was part of a nine-man break that went clear after 25 kilometres of the 14th stage from Revel.
But it was the cagey cat-and-mouse tactics of the maillot jaune Andy Schleck and his nearest rival Alberto Contador on the final climb that had viewers on the edge of their seat.
Schleck was able to respond to a number of accelerations by Contador and the Spaniard, seemingly frustrated at his inability to shake off the Saxo Bank rider, decided to slow down.
However, Schleck called his bluff and the two riders came came to a walking pace, allowing the third and fourth-placed riders overall - Samuel Sanchez of Euskaltel and Denis Menchov of Rabobank to capitalise.
It was a moment of drama on a day when the overall picture was jiggled but not shaken up.
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Riblon's reward for his aggression and bravery was the stage win. After Sylvain Chavanel's two and Sandy Casar's victory, it is the fourth for the French. The last time France had four or more stage wins to celebrate was in 1997, the year before the Festina Affair contributed to French cycling plunging into the darkness.
The early break set the pattern for the day. Riblon was joined by the British road race champion Geraint Thomas (Team Sky), David Zabriskie (Garmin-Transitions), Amael Moinard, Stephane Augé (both Cofidis), Jurgen Van de Walle (Quick Step), Pierre Rolland (Bbox Bouygues Telecom), Benoit Vaugrenard (Française des Jeux) and Pavel Brutt (Katusha).
Their lead reached a maximum of 10 minutes as they headed towards the two big mountains at the end of the day.
On the Port de Pailhères, a very difficult hors categorie climb, the race started to hot up and the searing pace set by Contador's Astana team for so long on the approach to the mountain began to tell.
A lot of riders were dropped. Of the overall contenders, Michael Rogers (HTC-Columbia) was one of the first to be in trouble. Lance Armstrong, a husk of even last year's defiant combatant, was also left behind.
Towards the top Bradley Wiggins (Team Sky) began to struggle, although he got back in touch on the descent.
The lead group was whittled down until just Riblon, Moinard and Van de Walle remained. And behind them Carlos Sastre tried to go for a long one, attacking with his Cervélo team-mate Volodymyr Gustov but he was caught on the final climb.
The final climb to Ax-3-Domaines was gripping, if not decisive.
Riblon's lead was shredded but he still had a minute in hand as he entered the final kilometre. Contador and Schleck looked capable of dropping everyone else but unable to maintain the pace for long.
And when they began to play about, Menchov seized his chance. Sanchez joined him and the pair worked hard, although their reward at the line was just 14 seconds.
Schleck maintains his 31-second lead over Contador, but Sanchez is now just 2-31 down overall. Robert Gesink and Levi Leipheimer traded places and Wiggins fell from 16th to 18th. He's now not even the best-placed Team Sky rider. Thomas Löfkvist, the Swede brought to the Tour to help him, is two places higher.
RESULTS
Stage 14: Revel - Ax-3-Domaines
1. Christophe Riblon (Fra) AG2R 184.5km in 4-52-42
2. Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank at 54sec
3. Samuel Sanchez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi same time
4. Andy Schleck (Lux) Saxo Bank at 1-08
5. Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Katusha
6. Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank
7. Alberto Contador (Spa) Astana
8. Jurgen Van den Broeck (Bel) Omega Pharma all same time
9. Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre at 1-49
10. Carlos Sastre (Spa) Cervélo same time
Others
36. Bradley Wiggins (GB) Team Sky at 4-59
Overall
1. Andy Schleck (Lux) Saxo Bank in 68-02-30
2. Alberto Contador (Spa) Astana at 31sec
3. Samuel Sanchez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi at 2-31
4. Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank at 2-44
5. Jurgen Van den Broeck (Bel) Omega Pharma at 3-31
6. Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank at 4-27
7. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Radioshack at 4-51
8. Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Katusha at 4-58
9. Luis Leon Sanchez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne at 5-56
10. Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas at 6-52
Others
11. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana at 7-04
12. Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas at 7-11
13. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin-Transitions at 7-17
14. Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R at 8-03
15. Carlos Sastre (Spa) Cervélo at 8-15
16. Thomas Löfkvist (Swe) Team Sky at 9-46
18. Bradley Wiggins (GB) Team Sky at 11-30
19. Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing at 12-39
38. Lance Armstrong (USA) Radioshack at 39-44
Points Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Lampre
KOM Anthony Charteau (Fra) Bbox Bouygues Telecom
Youth Andy Schleck (Lux) Saxo Bank
Watch highlights of Tour de France 2010, stage 14 by clicking play below...
Tour de France 2010: Latest news
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 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 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 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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