Riblon wins Pyrenean opener

Ax-3-Domaines - Frenchman Christophe Riblon of AG2R claimed a deserved maiden Tour de France victory on the race's 14th stage here Sunday as an anticipated yellow jersey battle failed to materialise.

Race leader Andy Schleck of Saxo Bank retained the yellow jersey with his 31-sec lead on main rival Alberto Contador of Spain after the pair stubbornly played poker games with each other on the race's two difficult climbs.

Instead, podium hopefuls Samuel Sanchez of Spain and Russian Denis Menchov were given unexpected freedom in the final third of the 7.8km climb to the summit finish here to close their respective deficits.

As Riblon finished off an impressive solo performance to claim his first success on the race, Sanchez and Menchov crossed the line together at 52secs adrift. Schleck and Contador came over the finish around 15secs later.

With Contador still in second at 31, Euskaltel's Sanchez closed his overnight deficit of 2:45 to 2:31, with Menchov staying in fourth at 2:44.

A number of pre-race contenders continued to see their respective campaigns crumble, with Lance Armstrong being dropped early on the 15.5km clmb to the summit of Port de Pailheres.

Australians Michael Rogers and Cadel Evans, as well as Britain's Bradley Wiggins, were left among the strugglers on the final climb.

Fourteenth stage results:

1. Christophe Riblon (France / AG2R) 4hrs 52mins 42secs
2. Denis Menchov (Russia / Rabobank) +54"
3. Samuel Sanchez (Spain / Euskaltel)
4. Andy Schleck (Luxembourg / Saxo Bank) +1:08"
5. Joaquim Rodriguez (Spain / Katusha)
6. Robert Gesink (Netherlands / Rabobank)
7. Alberto Contador (Spain / Astana)
8. Jurgen Van den Broeck (Belgium/Omega Pharma-Lotto)
9. Damiano Cunego (Italy / Lampre) +1:49"
10. Carlos Sastre (Spain / Cervelo)

Overall standings

1. Andy Schleck (Luxembourg / Saxo Bank) 68hrs 02mins 30secs
2. Alberto Contador (Spain / Astana) +31"
3. Samuel Sanchez (Spain / Euskaltel) +2:31"
4. Denis Menchov (Russia / Rabobank) +2:44"
5. Jurgen Van den Broeck (Belgium / Omega Pharma-Lotto) +3:31"
6. Robert Gesink (Netherlands / Rabobank) +4:27"
7. Levi Leipheimer (U.S. / RadioShack) +4:51"
8. Joaquim Rodriguez (Spain / Katusha) +4:58"
9. Luis Leon Sanchez (Spain / Caisse d'Epargne) +5:56"
10. Ivan Basso (Italy / Liquigas) +6:52"