Tour de France 2012: Stage 16 – in pictures

Following Tuesday's news that Radioshack's Franck Schleck had tested positive for a banned substance (the diuretic Xipamide), there was a busy start to the day for Radioshack's Press Officer Philippe Maerten Photograph: Guillaume Horcajuelo/EPA

On a brighter note, it's Nelson Mandela's 94th birthday today and there's a poster celebrating his birthday at the start of the stage in Pau Photograph: Bogdan Cristel/Reuters

The peloton, with Bradley Wiggins wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, rides under palm trees as the riders head off on 122.4 miles to Bagnères-de-Luchon Photograph: Christophe Ena/AP

As the riders head into the Pyrenees there's a breakaway pack Photograph: Lionel Bonaventure/AFP/Getty Images

The Peloton makes it's way up the Col d'Aubisque Photograph: Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

Vicenzo Nibali, center left, and Bradley Wiggins, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, climb towards Aubisque pass Photograph: Christophe Ena/AP

Bradley Wiggins heads downhill with a group of riders Photograph: Bogdan Cristel/Reuters

It's a dangerous business as Katusha Team rider Vladimir Gusev finds out after a fall Photograph: Stephane Mahe/Reuters

Bradley Wiggins leads team-mate Chris Froome up the Col du Tourmalet Photograph: Bryn Lennon/Getty Images

Fans cheer on Cadel Evans as he climbs Peyresourde pass after he got distanced from the group with overall leader Bradley Wiggins Photograph: Laurent Cipriani/AP

Plenty of fans' winnebagoes line the route of the Col du Tourmalet Photograph: Bryn Lennon/Getty Images

Riders stream downhill Photograph: Joel Saget/AFP/Getty Images

The riders must focus and not be distracted Photograph: Joel Saget/AFP/Getty Images

Riders descend Photograph: Joel Saget/AFP/Getty Images

Thomas Voeckler is finding it hard work Photograph: Bogdan Cristel/Reuters

Thomas Voeckler takes a bottle of water from a fan Photograph: Lionel Bonaventure/AFP/Getty Images

He seems to have got a second wind and he pulls away from Wiggins and Froome Photograph: Lionel Bonaventure/AFP/Getty Images

The Europcar rider crosses the line to win the stage and take the red spotted jersey Photograph: Doug Pensinger/Getty Images