Sunny sky, back wind
90 riders at the start
All started

Six, then four!
The first breakaway happens in the climb up to the Col du Rey, first difficulty of this last stage. It first starts with six men: Atienza (COF), Charteau (BLB), Cox (BAR), Martinez (EUS), Goubert (AG2R), then caught by Camenzind (PHO). The group clears the first climb in the following order Atienza-Cox-Charteau. Martinez and Goubert are then dropped in the Cauisse section leaving only four men in front.

Good work in the lead
Among the breakaway group, the riders work out perfectly together and their lead increases. At the top of the Col de l’Exil, Charteau grabs the most climber's points ahead of Camenzind, Atienza and Cox. At that precise moment of the race, the escapees have a 2’15’’advantage. Despite the pace set by the Credit Agricole team in the main bunch, the gap moves up to 3’10’’ at km 45, 5’30’’ at km 77,5, and then a maximum of 6’ at km 111.

Everyone in the chase
In the peloton, the AG2R move to the leading positions to give the Credit Agricole boys a helping hand. The gap therefore drops down to 4’50’’ at the intermediate sprint of Paulhan (km 146, in the order Atienza-Cox-Charteau), then 2’50’’ in Marseillan, 30 kms from the finsih. The US Postal team joins the chase. From then on, the escapees' lead goes down to 22’’ at 15 kilomètres from the line. The four men are eventually caught at kilometre 189.

And Armstrong takes off...
The decisive move takes place at the bottom of the climb to the Mont St-Clair, 8 kilomètres from the finish: Azevedo (USP) with Armstrong, immediately followed by Martinez, break away from the peloton. As the riders cross the line for the first time, Azevedo is no longer with the leaders. Armstrong is in first spot ahead of Martinez. Behind the gaps are as follows:15’’ on Missaglia (BAR), 20’’ on Flores-Brochard-Casar, then 25’’ on Van Huffel (VLA), Salmon (CA) and yellow jersey Christophe Moreau. At around 600m from the line, the American leaves Martinez behind in a final effort. He wins the stage with a 19’’ lead on Brochard (BLB) and Martinez, Moreau finishing 10th with a 37 deficit on Armstrong. He therefore keeps the yellow and polka-dot jerseys, while the winner of the green jersey remains Thor Hushovd. Sandy Casar, despite a fall in the climb up to the Mont St-Clair, still grabs the white jersey of the best young rider.


Withdrawals: Beltran (USP), Noval Gonzalez (USP), Padrnos (USP), Rubiera (USP), Korff (T-MOB), Camenzind (PHO), Zuelle (PHO), Castresana (MRB), Lembo (MRB), Halgand (CA), Martin (RAGT), Serri (BAR).

Christophe Moreau (CA, 10th iof the stage, race winner)

Were you worried of losing your yellow jersey when you saw Armstrong tzaking off in the climb to the Mont St-Clair ?
It’s always worrying because he has a special sense of humor. 35kms from the finish, he came up to me to congratulate me for yesterday's victory so I asked him how he felt today and he answered "not well at all". Personally it was a climb that didn't really suit me. Even in my best shape, it's really to steep. So I immediately knew that I had to keep my calm and I built my race on that of Ekimov and Flores, thinking that Armstrong wouldn't be able to beat them by over 2 minutes. The important thing was to keep my yellow jersey, even if it was just for a second, and not to win the stage.

This week shows that you're back in shape...
I hadn't completely lost my shape but it's true that it's good to be back on the top of the cycling scene. I worked all the first stages for Thor Hushovd, who gives the team the green jersey. It's great to win after having given so much. Especially because I don't believe that I'm in the best of shapes. I felt strong mentally but can still do better physically.

And it must be encouragiong finishing ahead of Lance Armstrong, six weeks before the start of the Tour de France?
Of course, it's a dream. I know however that he's in the midlle of his preparation but also believe that I'll be in a different shape in July. Now, all I have to do is head back home in Savoie to check out some of the Tour stages.