Tired Armstrong retains overall lead

Spaniard David Etxebarria won the 16th stage of the Tour de France yesterday, a 192 kilometre ride from Lannemezan to Pau, but America's Lance Armstrong kept the yellow jersey.

Once's Etxebarria won a sprint for the line to claim his second stage triumph having also won the 12th stage last week. Etxebarria came home in 5hr 17min 07sec edging out Carlos Contreras, Alberto Elli, Alexandre Vinikourov and Jose-Luis Arrieta in a five-man dash for the line.

"To win a Tour stage is magnificent," said Etxebarria. "Going into the sprint I was really worried about Elli, because I know he is a strong finisher. But I know that the strongest guy won today."

Armstrong, who was up with the chasing pack throughout, maintained his solid lead over Kelme's Fernando Escartin of Spain, who despite a fighting late surge could only eat up four seconds of the deficit with Armstrong six minutes 15 seconds clear by the end. Banesto's Alex Zulle is still third overall, 7 min 28 sec off the pace. Armstrong and Zulle were both in the second group which crossed the line 20 seconds behind Etxebarria and company.

Armstrong admitted he was feeling tired from Tuesday's efforts but was ready for the final countdown to glory in Paris on Sunday. He added he was surprised at Escartin's late attack on the Col d'Aubique - the final climb of the day.

"That was the hardest climb of the day. I was surprised he attacked - I had no choice but to go with him," said the race leader, who declared anything could still happen. "We won't declare victory until the race is finished," Armstrong insisted.

Around a dozen riders were targeting the stage win over the final few kilometres after Mapei's Pavel Tonkov, Alberto Elli of Telekom and David Etxebarria of ONCE were reined in having detached themselves from the pack after 50 kilometres. Etxebarria finally put on a spurt to force his way home by a hair's breadth.

The caravan had left the Pyrenees after battling humid, overcast conditions as well as three first category and one non-categorised climbs before Pau welcomed the Tour for the 55th time. Only Paris and Bordeaux having hosted the race more often.

Before the stage, Banesto's Manuel Beltran of Spain, who fell in the previous stage, retired with shoulder trouble to trim the field to 142. His withdrawal was a blow for team-mate Zulle, whom he had been assigned to help through the mountains. Only Telekom and Lotto now have a full contingent left in the race.

Sebastian Demarbaix of Lotto launched the day's first attack after 14 kilometres and held the lead through the first sprint at Sarrancolin after 16.5 kilometres.

Telekom's Erik Zabel of Germany boosted his hopes of taking the green jersey points competition by placing second in the sprint just ahead of Australian rival Stuart O'Grady of Credit Agricole to take the lead to a healthy 12 points.

With Armstrong and Escartin happy to stay with the pack, King of the Mountains leader Richard Virenque of Polti and Zulle, respectively fifth and third overall, made a move towards the front.

The first climbing points went to Mariano Piccoli of Lampre but Virenque was right behind him on the opening climb to ensure Piccoli made only the tiniest of inroads into his 69-point category lead.

Virenque, now assured of a fifth crown in his favourite category, said he had been unable to keep up with Escartin and Armstrong in the final furlong.

"I couldn't follow. I just didn't have the legs today," said the Frenchman.

"I'm really starting to feel the fatigue and I know now that a place on the podium is out of reach. But I've still got to be happy with the fact that I am going to take the polka-dot jersey for the fifth year."

After 15 stages, no French rider has managed a stage win. The last - and only - time France drew a blank throughout the race was in 1926.