Contador in control as Astarloza takes stage

ALBERTO CONTADOR consolidated his position in the yellow jersey after a controlled ride in the Tour de France’s 16th stage won by fellow Spaniard Mikel Astarloza.

Contador finished alongside the rest of his maillot-jaune rivals 59 seconds behind Astarloza, who timed his finish to perfection to race clear of a four-man leading group and prevail after a trek of 159 kilometres from Martigny to Bourg St Maurice, the second Alpine stage.

Sandy Casar and Pierrick Fedrigo finished second and third respectively, six seconds off Astarloza, who sped away from his breakaway group with two kilometres left on the descent from Col du Petit St Bernard.