Wiggins tightens yellow grip, Voeckler wins 16th TDF stage

LUCHON, France (AFP) –

France’s Thomas Voeckler (centre) is congratulated by Team Europcar’s general manager Jean-René Bernaudeau at the end of the 197 km and sixteenth stage of the 2012 Tour de France cycling race starting in Pau and finishing in Bagneres de Luchon, southern France. Bradley Wiggins took another step towards securing his maiden Tour de France crown after a 16th stage won in stylish fashion by Voeckler.

Bradley Wiggins took another step towards securing his maiden Tour de France crown after a 16th stage won in stylish fashion by Frenchman Thomas Voeckler.

Yellow jersey holder Wiggins repelled a number of attacks by Vincenzo Nibali to come over the finish with his Italian rival and Sky teammate Chris Froome around seven minutes behind a triumphant Voeckler.

Defending champion Cadel Evans of Australia came over the finish line nearly 12 minutes behind Voeckler, and nearly five minutes behind Wiggins’ group after being dropped on the Col du Peyresourde.

It means Evans drops from fourth overall to seventh at 8:06 behind Wiggins.

The Englishman retained his 2min 05sec lead over Froome, with Liquigas rider Nibali still third at 2:23.