Arvesen: First stage victory in this year's Tour for CSC

Kurt-Asle Arvesen just about clinched victory in the 11th stage of the Tour de France, pipping Martin Elmiger and Alessandro Ballan in a sprint finish.

The Norwegian held off his rivals in a photo finish after a 167.5-km ride from Lannemezan to Foix to claim a first win for the CSC team in this year's event.

Cadel Evans retained the yellow jersey as he came home in the peleton which finished around 15 minutes back, safe in the knowledge that no big names had escaped in the breakaway.

The Silence-Lotto leader remains one second clear of Frank Schleck with American Christian Vande Velde still in third.

Positive test

However, once again the racing was overshadowed by the news that another competitor had failed a drugs test, Moises Duenas Nevado testing positive for EPO.

The Barloworld team immediately suspended the Spanish rider and withdrew him from the Tour following raids by French police on their hotel in Tarbes.

It was a tough day for the British-registered squad, as they lost Felix Cardenas and Paolo Longo to injuries, leaving them with just five men still on the tour.

After a day of rest for the competitors, Arvesen, junior world champion in 1997, was one of 12 riders in a group that broke away after 35 km.

Close finish

Frenchman Amael Moinard then launched a solo attack on the Col de Portel, going 90 seconds clear before being reeled in and swallowed up in the closing stages.

Arvesen went first in the dash for the finish and just about held off Elmiger of the AG2r-La Mondiale team, who had rushed up on the inside only to be pipped on the line.

"I've been waiting for this since my first Tour in 2004. In 2005, I was only second (in a stage)," said Arvesen. "Today is a bit of a revenge for me."

Stage result:
1. Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Norway / Team CSC ) 3h 58m 13s
2. Martin Elmiger (Switzerland / AG2R ) same time
3. Alessandro Ballan (Italy / Lampre )
4. Koos Moerenhout (Netherlands / Rabobank ) +2s
5. Alexandre Botcharov (Russia / Credit Agricole ) +11"
6. Pierrick Fedrigo (France / Bouygues Telecom ) +14"
7. Filippo Pozzato (Italy / Liquigas )
8. Benoit Vaugrenard (France / Francaise des Jeux )
9. Fabian Wegmann (Germany / Gerolsteiner )
10. Marco Velo (Italy / Milram )

Overall standings
1. Cadel Evans (Australia / Silence - Lotto ) 46h 42m 13s
2. Frank Schleck (Luxembourg / Team CSC ) +1s
3. Christian Vande Velde (U.S. / Garmin - Chipotle ) +38"
4. Bernhard Kohl (Austria / Gerolsteiner ) +46"
5. Denis Menchov (Russia / Rabobank ) +57"
6. Carlos Sastre (Spain / Team CSC ) +1:28"
7. Kim Kirchen (Luxembourg / Columbia ) +1:56"
8. Juan Jose Cobo (Spain / Saunier Duval ) +2:10"
9. Riccardo Ricco (Italy / Saunier Duval ) +2:29"
10. Vladimir Efimkin (Russia / AG2R ) +2:32"