The short 152.5km stage from Pau to Lourdes features the fearsome Col de l'Aubisque and will see Thomas Voeckler fighting to stay in yellow.

Gilbert comes home ahead of Mollema 6:46 down to pick up some useful green jersey points. Rojas leads the peloton over a minute later. Voeckler crosses the line to retain his yellow jersey.

Bak crossed the line five minutes down ahead of Pineau, Boasson Hagen and Gusev, while Tjallingii and Petacchi finish soon afterwards.

Thor Hushovd becomes the first world champion since Oscar Freire in 2002 to win a stage of the Tour de France.

Moncoutie comes home 11 seconds down and a disconsolate Roy takes third, 25 seconds back.

A superb victory for the world champion Thor Hushovd!

Hushovd passes the flamme rouge with a huge smile on his face...

Moncoutie now passes Roy and leaves him for dead. Hearbreak for FDJ and Roy.

Hushovd doesn't even stop as he passes Roy - he doesn't want to let Moncoutie back in it, and he is riding to a certain victory now.

What an acceleration from the world champion! Hushovd has almost caught Roy now!

Roy may just hold on. He looks exhausted, but he's determined. Moncoutie has a dig, but then Hushovd puts in an attack.

The peloton still has 10km left to ride.

Hushovd is now back in the groove - he knows he can't delay the chase any more. Moncoutie stays in his wheel. This is going to be very very close.

Roy has five kilometres to go and he still has 15 seconds.

There's a real stand off between Hushovd and Moncoutie - neither of them seem happy to work. The Frenchman knows he has no chance if it comes to a sprint finish, but Thor knows Moncoutie may try and go for a long one if they catch Roy...

But Roy remains defiant and has pulled out the gap a little. Perhaps Hushovd and Moncoutie are debating things behind...

Just 15 seconds now, and this is Hushovd's stage to lose...

It is going to be touch and go for Roy. Moncoutie is struggling to hold the wheel of Hushovd, who has the bit between his teeth. Roy is now onto a slight rise - it will be leg sapping and totally demoralising.

The gap is just 20 seconds now for Roy...

Leopard Trek are onto the front of the peloton with Movistar: clearly both feeling a bit threatened by that Gilbert move.

Gilbert has joined Mollema on the back end of the descent. Perhaps the Belgian is hoping to pick up some green jersey points at the finish.