Vanendert victorious as Voeckler keeps yellow

Riding his first Tour de France, 26-year-old Vanendert took advantage of a battle of attrition between the race favourites to launch a shrewd solo attack on the final climb of the 168.5km stage, winning by 21 seconds ahead of Spain's Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel).

The result was a reversal of Thursday's first Pyrenean stage, which Sanchez won ahead of the Belgian. "Winning at Plateau de Beille is like a dream come true," said Vanendert, the new king of the mountains. "Two mountain top finishes: one time second, one time first... I've tried two times and luckily now I have two things: a prize jersey and a stage win, so I'm very glad."

A dig inside the final 500 metres won Andy Schleck (Leopard Trek) a couple of seconds over his GC rivals, the Luxembourg rider taking third place, 46 seconds behind Vanendert.

Cadel Evans (BMC) led a group of favourites over the line - including reigning champion Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank) and the current maillot jaune Voeckler (Europcar) - 48 seconds off the pace.

Vanendert's victory is his team Omega Pharma-Lotto's third win of the Tour following successful rides from sprinters Philippe Gilbert and Andre Greipel - a remarkable turn of events following the abandonment of the team's leader Jurgen van den Broeck in the first week with a broken shoulder blade.

The gruelling climb to Plateau de Beille has historically decided the outcome of the Tour - the four previous winners all going on to secure the overall victory in Paris.

But this year, the arduous ascent was a more cagey affair as a series of small attacks from the younger Schleck brother were all countered by the main group of nine riders.

With seven kilometres left to ride, Vanendert exploited this stalemate to make his decisive move. More than 12 minutes down on surprise leader Voeckler in the GC, Vanendert was allowed to built up a gap as he chased down tiring lone leader Sandy Casar (FDJ), the last of a initial 24-man breakaway which formed early in the stage before the first of six climbs.

Sanchez, winner of stage 12 at Luz-Ardiden, managed to break clear of the chasing group but he was unable to eat into the Belgian's lead and had to settle for second place near his native Basque region. He also lost his polka dot jersey to Vanendert, who leads the mountains standings by two points.

Further down the hill, Italy's Ivan Basso (Liquigas) was a constant fixture on the front of the chasing group in which Contador cut an uncomfortable figure as attack followed attack.

Voeckler, supported by his team-mate Pierre Rolland, looked every bit a race favourite as he responded to every dig - and even put in a few of his own. Seven years on from his famous previous ride in yellow to Plateau de Beille - where the unfancied Frenchman limited his losses to Lance Armstrong to retain his maillot jaune for a memorable 10th day - Voeckler once again proved that his position at the race summit should not be taken for granted.

The former French road race champion leads Frank Schleck by 1:49 in the overall standings with Australian Evans in third, 2:06 down. Andy Schleck is fourth, 2:15 down, while Basso completes the top five at 3:16.

After clawing back some more precious seconds at the finish, Sanchez leap-frogs his compatriot Contador into sixth place, 3:44 down, while a stuttering yet nevertheless improving Contador is now seventh, exactly four minutes down on Voeckler.

Damiano Cunego (Lampre) faded in the last 5km of the final climb, coming across the finish 39 seconds slower than his rivals. The Italian drops two places to eighth position, one second behind Contador.

The Tour continues on Sunday with the flat 193km stage 15 from Limoux to Montpellier, which could give Britain's Mark Cavendish (HTC) a chance to win his fourth stage of the Tour.  

Tour de France, Stage 14,  Saint-Gaudens to Plateau de  Beille
1. Jelle Vanendert (Bel) Omega Pharma Lotto 5:13:25
2. Samuel Sanchez (Esp) Euskaltel-Euskadi - at 21 seconds
3. Andy Schleck (Lux) Leopard Trek - at 46 seconds
4. Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team - at 48 seconds
5. Rigoberto Uran (Col) Team Sky - same time
6. Alberto Contador (Spa) Saxo-Bank Sungard - same time
7. Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Team Europcar - same time
8. Fränk Schleck (Lux) Leopard Trek - same time
9. Jean-Christophe Peraud (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale - same time
10.Pierre Rolland (Fra) Team Europcar - same time

General classification after Stage 14:
1. Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Team Europcar - 61:04:10
2. Fränk Schleck (Lux) Leopard Trek - at one minutes 49 seconds
3. Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team - at two minutes 06 seconds
4. Andy Schleck (Lux) Leopard Trek - at two minutes 15 seconds
5. Ivan Basso (Ita) - Liquigas - at three minutes 16 seconds
6. Samuel Sanchez (Spa) - Euskaltel - at three minutes 44 seconds
7. Alberto Contador (Spa) Saxo-Bank Sungard - at four minutes
8. Damianno Cunego (Ita) - at four minutes 01 second
9. Kevin de Weert (Bel) - Quick Step - at six minutes 18 seconds
10. Rigoberto Uran (Col) Team Sky - at seven minutes 55 seconds