Phil Wrochna is managing editor of firstoffthebike.com and a commentator on SEN 1116. He is writing daily on the Tour for BPL.

Last night was the night that Lance Armstrong was supposed to ride into the town of Pau as the winner of Stage 16. A perfect ending to a marvellous career on the road for the Texan as he crashed out early in the Tour and could not be counted amongst the favorites. He'd been threatening to make a move on Twitter of all places, as is the new face of professionalism in sports, and Stage 16 was his moment.

But it was not to be as he was thwarted by another Frenchman. The French are riding an inspired race as another crossed the line in first making it six for the Tour. While they might not have a GC contender they are very good on the stages. For Lance it is the end of what has been a glittering, dominant controversy filled career. Studded with moments and days of brilliance he will exit this Tour with a little bit of fight left in a tired body.

Who's Hot

Pierrick Fedrigo - Another Frenchman in the line of them who are winning stages of this years. Tour. The most successful nation of the race the locals will be well pleased with their countryman's efforts.

Andy Schleck - Has twittered to the cycling world that Contador has apologised to him for the attack on the top of the final mountain. Schleck needs to move on and take some toughuy pills before the next big day and in the mountains and then go out and try to win the Tour.

Damino Cunego - Has pulled himself out of our Who's Not section after a series of attacking and aggressive riding. The Little Prince may not be winning but his aggression is fantastic.

Who's Not

Hard to bin riders after a stage like this. We will have a plenty of candidates after the brutal Stage 17. Reputations will be made and lost on this stage.

Results - Stage 16

1   Pierrick Fedrigo (Fra) Bbox Bouygues Telecom   5:31:43

2 Sandy Casar (Fra) Française des Jeux

3 Ruben Plaza Molina (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne

4 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini

5 Christopher Horner (USA) Team Radioshack

6 Lance Armstrong (USA) Team Radioshack

7 Jurgen Van De Walle (Bel) Quick Step

8 Christophe Moreau (Fra) Caisse d'Epargne

9 Carlos Barredo Llamazales (Spa) Quick Step 0:00:28

10 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo Test Team 0:06:45

General Classification after Stage 16

1   Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana   78:29:10

2 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank 0:00:08

3 Samuel Sánchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 0:02:00

4 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 0:02:13

5 Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto 0:03:39

6 Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank 0:05:01

7 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Team Radioshack 0:05:25

8 Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Team Katusha 0:05:45

9 Alexander Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana 0:07:12

10 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin - Transitions 0:07:51

11 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas-Doimo 0:07:58

12 Ruben Plaza Molina (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 0:08:02

13 Luis León Sánchez Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 0:08:19

14 Christopher Horner (USA) Team Radioshack 0:08:52

15 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Cervelo Test Team 0:09:02

16 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Team Radioshack 0:11:14

17 Thomas Löfkvist (Swe) Sky Professional Cycling Team 0:12:09

18 Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La Mondiale 0:12:34

19 Kevin De Weert (Bel) Quick Step 0:14:07

20 John Gadret (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:14:24

Points Classification (Green Jersey)

1  Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo Test Team   191   pts

2 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini 187

3 Mark Cavendish (GBr) Team HTC - Columbia 162

4 Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 149

5 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Team Katusha 138

Mountains Classification

1   Anthony Charteau (Fra) Bbox Bouygues Telecom   143   pts

2 Christophe Moreau (Fra) Caisse d'Epargne 128

3 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini 99

4 Sandy Casar (Fra) Française des Jeux 93

5 Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Quick Step 92

The road ahead

A rest day tonight then an epic ride in Stage 17