Tour de France 2011 stage 16 summary: Hushovd wins his 10th stage in 2011 Tour

Stage 16 of the 2011 Tour de France was 162.5 kilometres starting at Saint-Paul-Trois Châteaux and finishing at Gap. The stage was a steady uphill ride and was the last stage before the riders hit the Alps.

The pace was very high at the start of the stage, which made it very hard for any riders to breakaway from the peloton in the first half of the course.

Columbian-born team COFIDIS rider Leonardo Duque crashed with 96.7 kilometres remaining in the stage. Duque was not hurt too badly and managed to get back on his bike.

Rain started falling with 70 kilometres to go during a downhill section of the stage. The riders who led the descent took advantage of the wide roads and a small group finally manages to leave the peloton.

The group consisted of well-known riders including world champion Thor Hushovd. It took 100 kilometres for the second - and larger - breakaway group to form.

The peloton slowed down drastically. With 27.3 kilometres remaining the weather conditions got worse but the leading riders did not reduce their effort, the ten men at the front were still six minutes clear.

With 14.5 kilometres remaining Alberto Contador attacked. The Schleck brothers, Cadel Evans, Samuel Sanchez and Tour leader Thomas Voeckler managed to stay with the defending Tour de France champion. Contador then increased his speed once more, this time only Evans and Sanchez could keep up.

At the top, Contador, Evans and Sanchez passed the summit of Col de Monse 20 seconds before the yellow jersey group. Notable riders in the group included the Schleck brothers and Thomas Voeckler.

Alberto Contador sent a clear message today that he will stay well in the hunt for the title in the Alps stages.

At the end of the race world champion Thor Hushovd used his fellow Garmin-Cervelo teammate Ryder Hesjedal to help him cross the finish line just ahead of his compatriot Edvald Boasson Hagen. Hesjedal finished third.

Cadel Evans finished fourth, 4 minutes and 23 seconds after Hushovd, three seconds before Contador, 21 seconds before Voeckler, Frank Schleck and 1 minute and 9 seconds before Andy Schleck.

Cadel Evans confirmed that he is candidate for the title, Contador is back in the hunt and Andy Schleck is not racing at his best.