World champion Thor Hushovd of Norway led a three-man breakaway to win a rainy 16th stage of the Tour de France on Tuesday, as overall race leader Thomas Voeckler lost crucial seconds against two top race favorites.
Three-time champion Alberto Contador attacked in the final climb of Tuesday's 162.5-kilometer (101-mile) route from Saint-Paul-Trois-Chateaux to Gap and reduced his deficit in the title quest.
Hushovd won his second stage this Tour by outpacing fellow Norwegian Edvald Boassen Hagen in second and Hushovd's Garmin-Cervelo teammate Ryder Hesjedal in third.
Hushovd, a 32-year-old veteran long known as a star sprinter, showed off his new talents when he won Stage 13 over a big climb. This time, he displayed a puncher's ability to break away on a more rolling course.
The Norwegian has been one of the stars of this race. He also held the yellow jersey for six days early in the race, after the Garmin-Cervelo team won the team time trial in Stage 2.
Contador and two-time Tour runner-up Cadel Evans gained time on Voeckler, who retained the yellow jersey, while two-time runner-up Andy Schleck of Luxembourg was among the day's big losers crossing the finish back of the other favorites.
{{/usCountry}}Contador and two-time Tour runner-up Cadel Evans gained time on Voeckler, who retained the yellow jersey, while two-time runner-up Andy Schleck of Luxembourg was among the day's big losers crossing the finish back of the other favorites.
{{/usCountry}}Ten breakaway riders pressed the pace through most of the stage, though by the finish that group had thinned.
Contador charges
As the pack prepared to scale the mid-grade Col de Manse climb, with about 15 kilometers left in the stage, Contador sped out of the front of the pack in a string of attacks to gain about 20 seconds on most favorites.
Only Evans, a two-time Tour runner-up, kept up. While the 9.5-kilometer climb was not well-suited for Contador to gain time on his rivals it wasn't so steep that they couldn't keep up â€" the signal from the three-time champion was clear: Don't forget about me.