The latest bout in the battle for the Tour de France leader's yellow jersey ended in a stalemate in the Pyrenees today.
As Christophe Riblon won the 184.5-kilometre 14th stage from Revel to Ax-3-Domaines, Andy Schleck (Team Saxo Bank) successfully shadowed Alberto Contador (Astana) to finish on the same time.
Schleck retained the race leader's maillot jaune and a 31-second advantage over Contador, who is seeking a third Tour title in four years in Paris next Sunday.
Ireland's Nicolas Roche rode home in 18th position on the stage, 2 minutes 27 seconds behind Riblon. Roche lies 14th in the overall standings, 8 minutes 03 seconds behind Schleck.
Riblon (Ag2r La Mondiale), who was part of the day's nine-man breakaway, soared ahead on the 15.5km hors categorie (beyond category) climb of Port de Pailheres and held on to his advantage on the 7.8km category one climb to Ax-3-Domaines to claim his first Tour stage victory.
Denis Menchov (Rabobank) was 54 seconds behind in second place, with Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) third.
Samuel Sanchez is third overall, but only trimmed the leading duo's advantage of over two minutes by 14 seconds as Schleck and Contador finished one minute eight seconds adrift of Riblon in a group of five riders.
Today's stage was expected to be a showdown between Schleck and Contador, but the duo played a game of cat and mouse.
However, with tomorrow's 187.5km 15th stage from Pamiers to Bagneres-de-Luchon featuring the Tour's third hors categorie climb and two ascents of the fabled Col du Tourmalet (on Tuesday and Thursday) to come, there are sure to be more twists and turns in the yellow jersey duel.
