Schleck trek wrecked, then decked by check at Le Tour

It has been a midweek to forget for the Schleck family from Luxembourg after the father of former yellow jersey holder Frank suffered the indignity of having his car stopped and searched by French customs officials.

Less than 24 hours after Frank was forced to conform to the CSC team pecking order and effectively hand the yellow jersey to Carlos Sastre on Alpe d’Huez, his father Johnny had to watch while officials picked their way around his vehicle.

With yesterday’s stage from Bourg d’Oisans to Saint Etienne still in its infancy, Schleck Snr, who drives sponsors around, had other concerns.

Nothing was found and the customs men would neither disclose whether they had been working on a tip-off or reveal why they had been searching the car.

Suspicion had nevertheless unjustly fallen on the Schleck brothers, Frank and Andy, who dismissed the incident. Andy said: ‘The police and the customs officers have got their job to do, just like I have mine, but it doesn’t worry me.’

Thursday's stage was won by Marcus Burghardt, who engaged in a pas-de-deux with Quickstep’s Carlos Barredo.

Having spent three hours together building a 10-minute gap on the peloton — in which Sastre maintained his overall lead — the pair then played chicken in the final stages.

They almost came to a standstill in the final straight before the German chose his moment to sprint clear.

Germany's Marcus Burghardt stormed to his first stage win in the Tour de France on Thursday

In last year’s Tour, Burghardt and his bike were left in a crumpled heap on the floor after colliding with a dog that wandered across the road.

This year, he worked on behalf of Columbia team-mate Mark Cavendish as the Englishman collected four stage wins in sprint finishes.

Burghardt said: ‘My job was to help Cav but the team always said I would be able to go in a breakaway in the final week. But I never expected to be involved in such a strange finish.’

(Today, Stage 19: Roanne-Montlucon, 103miles)