Racing | Tour De France | Stage 9

Anyway, we look forward to hearing what he has to say.

That completes our live coverage for today's stage - thanks for reading, and make sure to come back for the report and full results. The Tour de France has a rest day tomorrow; we won't, though, so you'll get all the latest news here. Merci!

Interestingly, we've just got notification of the Astana press conference planned for tomorrow. Once again Lance Armstrong will not speak to the press, leaving it for Alberto Contador to do the talking.

Normally team leaders share it out, so that's unusual.

Fedrigo notches up another win for France. French riders are having a wonderful Tour. Italian, Rinaldo Nocentini, will hold on to the yellow jersey until Tuesday as the riders have a rest day tomorrow.

There's a rest day tomorrow, of course, so a chance for the riders to put the legs up. They'll still get out on their bikes to keep the legs moving, but will get to sleep in a little, eat and unwind.

No change in the overall standings, so Ag2r keeps yellow on the shoulders of Nocentini. The team did a lot of work today on the climbs, so that's well deserved.

It's a shame the climb was so far from the finish...it really neutered the Tourmalet, it must be said. Even so, we are disappointed that some of the GC contenders didn't at least try to have a go...they are running out of time to try to get back up near the top of the classification.

There's still quite a way to go to Paris, of course, but the next few stages are relatively flat. Perhaps Friday's stage to Colmar might do the trick, as the final first category climb is 20 kilometres from the finish.

Bouygues Telecom has said that it doesn't want to continue as a main sponsor, so the team is looking for another company to come on board. That's the way to do it.. lots of publicity at the Tour.

That's the second stage win for Bouygues Telecom, too...Thomas Voeckler won earlier in the Tour.

Freire came in ahead of Ivanov (Katusha) and Peter Velits (Milram). And good ride by Nicolas Roche, who netted tenth...

Great ride by Fedrigo, who nets France's third sage win in six road race stages. Leaving out the two races against the clock, France has taken 50% of the stages....very good showing.

What a finish!

Pellizotti jumped going into the final corner, got ahead, but Fedrigo got him back...

Freire takes the sprint for third...