Maquinaria Lorenzana S.A.

The italian put on a display

Vincenzo Nibali, the 'Shark of the Straight', is hungrier than ever. Not content with his blistering lead in the general classification, Nibali insisted on striking another definitive blow and winning the final mountain stage of the Tour de France. He gave an authentic recital on the legendary Hautacam summit to seal his fourth stage win in this year's race.

Alejandro Valverde dropped back to fourth in the battle for the podium, but is still very much in contention with Pinot and Peraud - second and third respectively. A new chapter in this particular skirmish awaits on Saturday in the time trial.

As occurred on the previous day on the ascent to Pla d'Adet, the Spaniard was unable to respond to Pinot's attack six kilometres from the Hautacam finish, where he arrived 49 seconds behind the second-placed Frenchman.

Peraud, who managed to keep up with his fellow countryman, lost 5 seconds in the final sprint, as did the American Tejay van Garderen.

The 34-year-old Movistar cyclist needs to finish among the three top-placed riders in the time trial between Bergerac and Périgueux on Saturday - an event which Pinot, at least on paper, is better at.

He is currently just 15 seconds behind the young Frenchman (aged 23) and just 3 seconds behind the experienced Piraud (aged 37), although the AG2R cyclist is a better time trial rider.