French rider Pierrick Fedrigo gave the hosts their fourth win of the Tour de France when he beat American Christian Vande Velde to win the 158.5 km 15th stage between Samatan and Pau.
Race leader Bradley Wiggins of Britain and the main peloton came over the finish line nearly 12 minutes behind a five-man breakaway.
Wiggins, who took the race lead at the end of stage seven, came under no threat during the undulating stage to the foot of the Pyrenees where the peloton will spend the race's second rest day before two hard days in the mountains.
The Team Sky leader still has a 2min 05sec lead over teammate Chris Froome, with Italian Vincenzo Nibali in third at 2:23 and Australian Cadel Evans fourth at 3:19.
