We have seen little of Thomas Voeckler since his day in the break on stage four, when the Tour hit France for the first time, but the gurning Frenchman was back on top form on a stage he has made his own in recent years.
Twice a winner on the descent of the Port de Bales, the Team Europcar man stood on the brink of a third stage win in Bagneres-de-Luchon.
And when first Kevin Reza, and then a series of accelerations by Voeckler, blew the break apart it looked to be Europcar in the driving seat as well.
With Voeckler and Cyril Gautier occupying two-fifths of the lead group on the rapid descent, it was his to lose on what has become almost a home road for the French favourite.
Sending Gautier up the road, however, proved to be a mistake – with Voeckler unwilling to chase down his team-mate and Gautier not having the legs to stay out, their race fell apart.
Nevertheless, Voeckler has once again – after a relatively quiet Tour – proved he can be in the mix. Expect more in the final few stages.
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