Germany's Jens Voigt won a tussle with an exhausted Brad McGee to win the 16th stage of the Tour de France today as Lance Armstrong and the rest of the favourites had another easy day in the saddle.
Australian McGee had to be led away from the finish line after almost collapsing after the 229.5 kilometre 16th stage from Castelsarrasin to Sarran.
Armstrong, on course for his third successive Tour victory, stayed safely in the pack around 20 minutes back to keep the yellow jersey with a lead of five minutes five seconds over his nearest rival Jan Ullrich.
On another long stage in sweltering heat and with only four days to go before the finish in Paris, most of the riders were content to keep cool with a leisurely ride through the heart of rural France.
Seven riders escaped after 61 kms, and with no one among them to threaten Armstrong's lead the peloton let them go.
Voigt and McGee went off alone at the front of that group around 25 kms from the finish and it was Credit Agricole rider Voigt who proved the stronger in the final head-to-head.
Four riders were taken to hospital after a nasty crash around 32 kms from the finish. Marc Wauters, Sven Montgomery, Jens Heppner and Oscar Pozzi were all forced to abandon the race after an accident that caught up as many as 20 riders.