The rivals for the Tour de France yellow jersey took a back seat to the breakaway in the last stage in the Pyrennes on Wednesday.
With a margin of about 15 minutes over the main field, Norwegian cyclist Kurt Alse Arvesen, left, won a three-man sprint to the finish in Foix. It was the first stage victory at this year's Tour for Team CSC.
The results of the 12-man breakaway didn't affect the battle for the yellow jersey, however, as Cadel Evans remained in first, followed by Frank Schleck, then Christian Vande Velde of the US.
Breakaway
The day's breakaway developed about 30 miles into the 103-mile race from Lannemezan to Foix with about a dozen riders. The group didn't contain any overall contenders, so they were allowed to go ahead.
The gutsiest move of the came from Amael Moinard, a Frenchman on Cofidis. He attacked this breakaway group about 3 miles from the of the first category climb Col de Portel, then he hung onto the lead until the streets of Foix.
The cat and mouse games started in the breakaway away group once they reached the outskirts of the town and had Moinard in sight. Finally Martin Elmiger chases down Moinard with 2 1/2 miles left and he's soon joined by Arveson.
Sprint
As Moinard drops back, Elmiger, Arveson and Alessandro Ballan battle for a good position on the sprint. Arveson made the final attack and the other two nearly pull alongside but the CSC rider barely beats them.
Most stage ending sprints should be expected Thursday, Friday and maybe Saturday as the peloton passes through a relatively flat area until they reach the base of the Alps.
Next comes three days in the Alps, beginning Sunday, with Wednesday's Stage 17 ending on L'Alpe D'Huez.
The top 10 overall:
1 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence – Lotto
2 Frank Schleck (Lux) Team CSC – Saxo Bank, 1 second behind
3 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30, :38
4 Bernhard Kohl (Aut) Gerolsteiner, :46
5 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank, :57
6 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Team CSC – Saxo Bank, 1:28
7 Kim Kirchen (Lux) Team Columbia, 1:56
8 Juan Jose Cobo Acebo (Spa) Saunier Duval – Scott, 2:10
9 Riccardo Riccò (Ita) Saunier Duval – Scott, 2:29
10 Vladimir Efimkin (Rus) AG2R La Mondiale, 2:32
US riders overall:
3. Christian Vande Velde, Team Garmin-Chipotle, 38 seconds behind
57. George Hincapie (USA) Team Columbia, 39:51
121. Danny Pate (USA) Team Garmin-Chipotle 1:32:59
147. William Frischkorn (USA) Team Garmin-Chipotle 1:48:16
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