Voeckler wins in Bagnères-de-Luchon

Thomas Voeckler (Team Europcar) has set up overall victory at the Route du Sud after winning the queen stage in the Pyrenees and gaining precious seconds on most of his key rivals.

The ever-aggressive Frenchman showed he is on form for the Tour de France by joining the four-rider break of the Port de Balès that end just 30km from the finish and then beat Italian national champion Franco Pellizotti (Andorni Giocattoli) in a close sprint. John Gadret (AG2R La Mondiale) finished third, with his teammate Romain Bardet fourth.

Voeckler now leads Pellizotti by four seconds in the overall classification with just Sunday's 149km final stage from Saint-Gaudens to L’Isle-Jourdain to contest. The stage ends with a finishing circuit and is expected to finish with a sprint.

Voeckler set up his victory by joining Gadret and Bardet on the Port de Balès when the race exploded after a series of attacks. He was first over the climb and then dived down the descent, with Pellizotti only catching the trio in the final kilometre. However Voeckler launched the sprint early and held off the Italian at the line.

It was his second victory of the season after recently taking a similar stage victory at the Dauphiné Libéré. Last year he won two stages at the Tour de France and the climber's polka dot jersey.