• Tour de France, Stage 16, Saint-Paul-Trois-Chateaux to Gap

Contador and Evans blow open Tour

Andy Schleck and Thomas Voeckler ride through the rain © Getty Images

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Alberto Contador made a huge signal of intent on a rain lashed Stage 16 of the Tour de France, as he and Cadel Evans distanced Andy Schleck and race leader Thomas Voeckler to throw the race wide open.

The defending champion has looked out of sorts ever since a fall on the opening stage and was under pressure through the Pyrenees. His climbing legs looked unsteady on Saturday, but Andy and Frank Schleck failed to put in a concerted effort to break the Spaniard - gaining just a couple of seconds.

Contador's Saxobank team suggested the Schlecks may have erred and that statement looked to ring true as Contador threw in a surprise dig on the second category Col de Manse.

It caught out the Schlecks, Evans and leader Voeckler who took time to get to the Spaniard. Contador continued the attacks and two kilometres from the top, the Schlecks and Voeckler cracked - as Contador and Evans pressed on.

Evans - like Contador an excellent time trialist - pressed on down to the finish and he dropped Contador on the descent to gain three seconds. The Schlecks were distanced on the descent and lost a huge amount of time - Andy one minute and nine seconds and Frank 21 seconds - while Voeckler lost 21 seconds.

At the finish, Thor Hushovd and his Garmin team-mate Ryder Hesjedal worked over Sky's Edvald Boasson Hagen - with Hushovd dashing off the wheel in the closing metres to take the stage. Mark Cavendish holds onto the green jersey for another day, after a gutsy ride saw him finish six minutes and 48 seconds off the pace.

Tour de France, Stage 16, Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux - Gap
1. Thor Hushovd (Nor) Team Garmin-Cervelo - 3:31:38
2. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Sky Procycling - same time
3. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Team Garmin-Cervelo - at two seconds
4. Tony Martin (Ger) HTC-Highroad - at 38 seconds
5. Mikhail Ignatyev (Rus) Katusha Team - at 52 seconds
6. Alan Perez Lezaun (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi - at one minute 25 seconds
7. Jérémy Roy (Fra) FDJ - same time
8. Marco Marcato (Ita) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team - at one minute 55 seconds
9. Dries Devenyns (Bel) Quickstep Cycling Team - same time
10. Andriy Grivko (Ukr) Pro Team Astana - at one minute 58 seconds
11. Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team - at four minutes 23 seconds
12. Alberto Contador (Spa) Saxo-Bank Sungard - at four minutes 26 seconds
18. Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Team Europcar - at four minutes 44 seconds
22. Fränk Schleck (Lux) Leopard Trek - same time
36. Andy Schleck (Lux) Leopard Trek - at five minutes 32 seconds

General classification after Stage 16:
1. Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Team Europcar - 69:00:56
2. Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team - at one minute 45 seconds
3. Fränk Schleck (Lux) Leopard Trek - at one minute 49 seconds
4. Andy Schleck (Lux) Leopard Trek - at three minutes 03 seconds
5. Samuel Sanchez (Spa) Euskaltel - at three minutes 26 seconds
6. Alberto Contador (Spa) Saxo-Bank Sungard - at three minutes 42 seconds
7. Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas - at three minutes 49 seconds
8. Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre - at four minutes 01 second
9. Thomas Danielson (USA) Team Garmin-Cervelo - at six minutes 04 seconds
10. Rigoberto Uran (Col) - Quick Step - at seven minutes 55 seconds

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