Christophe Rinero leads a 13-man escape that has got away after 35-kilometres...

Inigo Landaluze starts to break up the escape on the Col de Soudet - they are over nine minutes in front!

T-Mobile is already taking control on the Soudet, led by Giuseppe Guerini...

Serhiy Honchar is being closely marked by Floyd Landis

Cyril Dessel and Juan Miguel Mercado have emerged clear of the other escapers halfway up the Col de Soudet...

Andreas Kloden is sheltered by T-Mobile as the Soudet ends - with Levi Leipheimer alongside him...

Damiano Cunego takes on food at the 'revetaillement' - the Italian looks stressed even on the flat roads!

After the escape regrouped following the descent of the Soudet, Mercado and Dessel have again moved ahead on the Col de Marie-Blanque...

T-Mobile is still setting a gentle pace on the Col de Marie-Blanque - which is why they are still over nine minutes behind!

Despite the easy pace, Honchar has been dropped three-kilometres from the summit, but he'll get back on before the top...

Landaluze is chasing Mercado and Dessel on the 40-kilometre run-in to Pau - but he will not get closer than 15-seconds...

Mercado is making the escape work - especially on the climb halfway to Pau...

Juan Miguel Mercado wins the two-man sprint into Pau...

Cyril Dessel celebrates taking the Yellow Jersey in Pau - he is the first Frenchman to do this since Thomas Voeckler in 2004!