<p>Sanchez, one of the most promising riders in the bunch, surged on the final stretch to beat Frenchman Sandy Casar, fellow Spaniard Mikel Astarloza and Russia's Vladimir Efimkin. <br /><br />Despite numerous attacks in the two first category climbs of the day, which put his leader's spot in jeopardy, Italian Rinaldo Nocentini retained the yellow jersey. <br /><br />The 25-year-old Sanchez, winner of Paris-Nice and six other races this season, was a stage winner on the Tour in Aurillac last year. His latest victory came on the day when his team-mate Oscar Pereiro, the 2006 Tour winner, called it quits. <br /><br />Sanchez became the flag-bearer for the team after Alejandro Valverde decided against entering the Tour because he is banned from racing in Italy, with the race due to pass through Italian territory. <br /><br />Sanchez decided to add Leon to his first name in memory of his older brother, also a professional rider, who was killed in a motorbike accident in 2005. <br /><br />"I'm lucky to be in such a team. I dedicate this victory to my team-mates, to my father and my brother who is up there," he said. <br /><br />Attacks against the Astana team of Alberto Contador and Lance Armstrong — second and third in the overall standings respectively — were expected. They took place but proved unfruitful. <br /><br />"Evans and Schleck tried to attack but it was too early in the stage," said Contador. <br />Cadel Evans, the Tour runner-up for the past two seasons, tried his luck on the first climb of the day, the Port d'Envalira, culminating at 2,400 metres. <br /><br />The Australian, who lost three minutes in the first week of the Tour, finally gave up on the descent. <br /><br />Evans said other riders with him refused to help for fear of being chased by Astana: "They acted like children, telling me to get away," he said. <br /><br />There was a second first category climb on the day's menu, the Col d'Agnes, and it was Andy Schleck's turn to challenge the Astana riders.<br /><br />The Luxembourg climber, crowned best young rider of last year's Tour, struck twice but also failed to drop the favourites. <br /><br />In the finale, Efimkin tried to break out on his own but Sanchez was the strongest and he overtook Casar near the line to grab the laurels. <br /><br />"I made a little mistake but it was hard with two Spaniards in the break working together and Efimkin, who did not do any work," said Casar. <br /><br />The Frenchman had reason to be bitter -- it was the fifth time he had finished second in a Tour de France stage. <br /><br />Sunday's 160.5km stage to Tarbes is relatively short but features two classic climbs on the Tour, Aspin and Tourmalet. "I'm just concentrating on going through the Tourmalet," said Contador.<br /></p>
<p>Sanchez, one of the most promising riders in the bunch, surged on the final stretch to beat Frenchman Sandy Casar, fellow Spaniard Mikel Astarloza and Russia's Vladimir Efimkin. <br /><br />Despite numerous attacks in the two first category climbs of the day, which put his leader's spot in jeopardy, Italian Rinaldo Nocentini retained the yellow jersey. <br /><br />The 25-year-old Sanchez, winner of Paris-Nice and six other races this season, was a stage winner on the Tour in Aurillac last year. His latest victory came on the day when his team-mate Oscar Pereiro, the 2006 Tour winner, called it quits. <br /><br />Sanchez became the flag-bearer for the team after Alejandro Valverde decided against entering the Tour because he is banned from racing in Italy, with the race due to pass through Italian territory. <br /><br />Sanchez decided to add Leon to his first name in memory of his older brother, also a professional rider, who was killed in a motorbike accident in 2005. <br /><br />"I'm lucky to be in such a team. I dedicate this victory to my team-mates, to my father and my brother who is up there," he said. <br /><br />Attacks against the Astana team of Alberto Contador and Lance Armstrong — second and third in the overall standings respectively — were expected. They took place but proved unfruitful. <br /><br />"Evans and Schleck tried to attack but it was too early in the stage," said Contador. <br />Cadel Evans, the Tour runner-up for the past two seasons, tried his luck on the first climb of the day, the Port d'Envalira, culminating at 2,400 metres. <br /><br />The Australian, who lost three minutes in the first week of the Tour, finally gave up on the descent. <br /><br />Evans said other riders with him refused to help for fear of being chased by Astana: "They acted like children, telling me to get away," he said. <br /><br />There was a second first category climb on the day's menu, the Col d'Agnes, and it was Andy Schleck's turn to challenge the Astana riders.<br /><br />The Luxembourg climber, crowned best young rider of last year's Tour, struck twice but also failed to drop the favourites. <br /><br />In the finale, Efimkin tried to break out on his own but Sanchez was the strongest and he overtook Casar near the line to grab the laurels. <br /><br />"I made a little mistake but it was hard with two Spaniards in the break working together and Efimkin, who did not do any work," said Casar. <br /><br />The Frenchman had reason to be bitter -- it was the fifth time he had finished second in a Tour de France stage. <br /><br />Sunday's 160.5km stage to Tarbes is relatively short but features two classic climbs on the Tour, Aspin and Tourmalet. "I'm just concentrating on going through the Tourmalet," said Contador.<br /></p>