Riblon wins Pyrenean opener, Schleck still in yellow

Frenchman Christophe Riblon, of AG2R, claimed a deserved maiden Tour de France victory on the race's 14th stage yesterday as an anticipated yellow jersey battle failed to materialise.

Race leader Andy Schleck, of Saxo Bank, retained the yellow jersey with his 31-second lead on main rival Alberto Contador, of Spain, after the pair stubbornly played poker games with each other on the race's two difficult climbs.

Instead, podium hopefuls Samuel Sanchez, of Spain, and Russian Denis Menchov were given unexpected freedom in the final third of the 7.8km climb to the summit finish to close their respective deficits.

As Riblon finished off an impressive solo performance to claim his first success in the race, Sanchez and Menchov crossed the line together at 52secs adrift. Schleck and Contador came over the finish around 15secs later.

With Contador still in second at 31, Euskaltel's Sanchez closed his overnight deficit of 2:45 to 2:31, with Menchov staying in fourth at 2:44.

A number of pre-race contenders continued to see their respective campaigns crumble, with Lance Armstrong being dropped early on the 15.5km climb to the summit of Port de Pailheres.

Australians Michael Rogers and Cadel Evans, as well as Britain's Bradley Wiggins, were left among the strugglers on the final climb.