Spaniard Oscar Pereiro of the Phonak team won the 16th stage of the Tour de France today, held over 180.5km between Mourenx and Pau.
Pereiro surged ahead of Cadel Evans, Eddy Mazzoleni and Xabier Zandio in the final metres of the 180.5 kilometre stage from Mourenx to Pau.
American Lance Armstrong retained the yellow jersey after the final day of climbing in the high mountains despite coming under a brief attack from Germany's Jan Ullrich.
Armstrong began the day with a 2 minute 46 second lead on Italian Ivan Basso, of the CSC team, with 1997 race winner Ullrich in fourth place, behind Michael Rasmussen, at nearly six minutes adrift of the six-time winner.
After today's stage, Armstrong's lead remained the same as all the main challengers finished in the peloton although there are likely to be significant changes in the race's hierarchy after Saturday's 55.5km time trial in St Etienne.
