The Saxo-Tinkoff rider made the decisive break three kilometres from home on the 237.5-kilometre leg from Carcassonne - the longest in this year's Tour - to finish nine seconds clear of Frenchman Thomas Voeckler riding for Europcar and Team Sky's Belarusian Vasil Kiryienka.

The 34-year-old was part of a group of 21 riders who split from the peloton inside the first two hours of the stage, but that was soon whittled down as they ascended the 12km Port de Bales climb.

Rogers, a three-time world champion and Olympic bronze medallist from Athens 2004, proved to be the strongest rider on the day as he bolted for home on the 3km descent into Bagneres-de-Luchon.

The Australian, who was a key Team Sky team mate of Bradley Wiggins when he won the 2012 Tour de France, was stripped of his 2013 Japan Cup Cycle Road Race title back in April after a urine sample showed traces of the drug clenbuterol following the event, which he won on October 20 last year.

However, he claimed he ingested the banned substance when he ate contaminated meat during a visit to China prior to competing in Japan.

The International Cycling Union backed his claim and although he was stripped of the Japan Cup, he was not handed a suspension.

Michael Rogers crossed the line nine seconds clear of the pack in Bagneres-de-Luchon today ©Getty Images




"I knew once I got to the bottom of the last climb, the race had began for me," said Rogers, who won two stages on the Giro d'Italia earlier this year.

"I tried a few times to drop them on the climb but I couldn't so I knew I had to pick them off on the descent.

"I said to myself - 'I have been in this position to many times and not won. I'm not going to do it again.'"

Just as they had done in Sunday's stage 15, Vincenzo Nibali and Alejandro Valverde finished side by side, nine minutes down on the winner, which sees the Italian maintain his four minute and 37 second lead over his Spanish rival at the top of the general classification.

Thibault Pinot of France replaced compatriot Romain Bardet in third overall.

Tomorrow's considerably shorter 124.5km stage will take the riders from Saint-Gaudens to Saint-Lary Pla d'Adet.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related Stories
July 2014: Kristoff sprints to second stage win after breakaway overhauled on finish line
July 2014: Majka climbs to stage 14 victory as Nibali extends lead in Tour de France
July 2014: Nibali tightens grip on yellow jersey with Tour de France stage 13 win as rival toils
July 2014: Kristoff sprints to Tour de France stage 12 victory
April 2014: Contaminated meat blamed for cyclist's failed drugs test as UCI lifts ban