Updated on
Summary Frenchman Thomas Voeckler won the 197 km 16th stage of Tour de France.
A week after a stage 10 victory secured thanks to a combination of strong legs and tactical nous, Frenchman Thomas Voeckler was at it again on the Tour de France Wednesday.Only this time, the Europcar riders second stage win of this years edition came topped with a sprinkling of daring and plenty of panache.Its difficult to say, but its certainly one of my best ever victories, said Voeckler after finishing the 197 km 16th stage nearly two minutes ahead of closest challenger Chris Anker Sorensen of Denmark.With four major Cols and a total of 47.3 km of climbing on the way to a downhill finish in Luchon, the stage was set to host one of the final battles for control of the race.And despite it proving fatal to Australian Cadel Evans title defence, Voeckler stole the show.The Frenchman was one of 38 determined riders who broke free of the peloton early and after a 16.4 km ascension led them in commanding fashion over the Col dAubisque.A number of attacks on the 19 km climb to the summit of the Tourmalet then split a reduced lead group further, with Garmins Dan Martin taking Fredrik Kessiakoff (Astana) and Dutchman Laurens Ten Dam of Rabobank with him when he attacked.With Kessiakoff in possession of the King of the Mountains polka dot jersey, alarm bells began ringing for Voeckler.At the summit, Voeckler took another 25 points for the days second hors categorie (unclassified) climb, cresting with Brice Feillu and leaving Martin, Kessiakoff and Sorensen just over a minute behind.As Bradley Wiggins Sky team began to turn the screw behind them in a bid to drop their own rivals, Voeckler was getting ideas of his own.As well as his second victory in this years race, his fourth overall, Voeckler has given himself a chance of a podium appearance in Paris on Sunday after taking over the polka dot jersey by four points from Kessiakoff.Having placed an impressive fourth overall in 2011, Voeckler knows his lowly placing this year has given him some freedom.Thursdays 17th stage is the last in the mountains.
