Menchov wins stage thriller

DENIS MENCHOV won the 11th stage of the Tour de France by pipping Levi Leipheimer and Floyd Landis in a thrilling sprint finish.

There was a consolation for Landis, though, with the American rider taking the overall lead as Cyril Dessel missed out on retaining the yellow jersey by just eight seconds.

Menchov’s victory in the first mountain finish of the Tour — a 206.5-kilometre route from Tarres to Pla-de-Beret in Spain — took him third overall standings. The stage included the legendary 18.3km Col du Tourmalet, which has been a Tour regular since its first appearance in 1910, and four category one climbs.