Armstrong steals the limelight after stage 16

Lance Armstrong stole the show during the 199.5km 16th stage of the Tour de France won by France’s Pierrick Fedrigo in Pau on Tuesday.

The seven-times champion,whose hopes of an eighth Tour win were dashed after a crash in the Alps during stage eight,proved he was still a force to be reckoned with when he attacked from the gun in Bagneres de Luchon and stayed at the front all day. The American sprinted in the final stretch but,at nearly 39,was forced to let Fedrigo,compatriot Sandy Casar and Spain’s Ruben Plaza battle it out for the day’s laurels.

While Armstrong finished sixth in the stage,six minutes and 45 seconds ahead of the peloton,Fedrigo gave France a sixth stage win in this Tour ahead of compatriot Casar.

Tour leader and holder Alberto Contador of Spain retained his eight-seconds overall lead from Luxembourg’s Andy Schleck as the two favourites preserved energy for a potentially decisive showdown at the top of the Tourmalet in Thursday’s 17th stage.