Win for Hincapie

A gruelling stage 15 saw George Hincapie become first team-mate of Lance Armstrong to win a stage at this year’s Tour de France as the six-time champion retained the yellow jersey against the challenge of Ivan Basso.

Discovery rider Armstrong held on to the wheel of CSC’s Basso while Hincapie pipped Phonak’s Oscar Pereiro in the final 250 metres to become the seventh American to take a Tour stage victory.

Credit Agricole’s Pietro Caucchioli took third place 37 seconds behind Hincapie as the riders battled through high temperatures in the Pyrenees before their well-earned rest day tomorrow.