Portugal's Rui Costa has streaked ahead in a strong solo ride to win the 16th stage of the Tour de France.
But behind him overall leader Chris Froome, of Britain, and Spanish rival Alberto Contador survived near crashes to maintain their respective positions in the field.
Froome managed to maintain his four minutes and 14 second overall lead on second placed Dutchman Bauke Mollema, of Belkin, with Contador in third place at four minutes and 25 seconds.
With the help of his Australian SKY team-mate Richie Porte, Froome also survived a series of attacks from Saxo Tinkoff challenger Contador while ascending the final climb of the 168-kilometre stage from Vaison-la-Romaine to Gap.
Then, as they descended the climb in the final few kilometres of the stage, Froome and Contador went perilously close to ending their Tours by running off the road.
But as Mike Tomalaris has told Murray Silby, it was Rui Costa's day to taste glory.
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