Alberto Contador retains yellow jersey as Mikel Astarloza claims first stage win

Astarloza rides clear of four man breakaway group
General classification remains the same
Mikel Astarloza
Mikel Astarloza crosses the finish line to win the 16th stage of the Tour de France. Photograph: Laurent Rebours/Associated Press

Spain's Mikel Astarloza won the 16th stage of the Tour de France, a 159-km trek from Martigny, Switzerland, to Bourg St Maurice on Tuesday. Sandy Casar was second and fellow Frenchman Pierrick Fedrigo came home third.

It was Astarloza's first stage win, despite several top 10 finishes, and he achieved it after riding clear of a four-man leading group with 2km remaining in the mountainous stage.

Spain's Alberto Contador retained the overall leader's yellow jersey after dropping Lance Armstrong again. However the American recovered well on the climb up the Col du Petit St Bernard, the day's second steep climb in the Alps, to finish with his fellow yellow-jersey contenders 59 seconds behind Astarloza.

Armstrong remains second behind Contador, while Britain's Bradley Wiggins finished alongside Astana's heavyweight duo to stay third in the general classification, which remained unchanged by the day's riding.

General classification after Stage 16

1. Alberto Contador (Spa/Astana) 67 hrs 33 mins 15 seconds

2. Lance Armstrong (USA/Astana) + 1 min 37 secs

3. Bradley Wiggins(GB/Garmin) + 1 min 46 secs

4. Andreas Kloden (Ger/Astana) + 2 mins 17 secs

5. Andy Schleck (Lux/Saxo Bank) + 2 mins 26 secs