BOURG SAINT MAURICE, France, July 21, 2009 (AFP) – A truck belonging to the Astana team, whose leader Alberto Contador holds the Tour de France’s yellow jersey, was searched for three hours on Tuesday by police, it was confirmed.

The truck, containing spare bikes, equipment and food, was making its way from the start of the 16th stage at Martigny, Switzerland to the finish line here at Bourg St Maurice.

It was stopped at the Swiss-France border near the Swiss village of Le Chatelard and searched by police, but nothing was found, confirmed Astana spokesman Philippe Maertens.

“They were very thorough and opened every suitcase, every container and found nothing,” he told AFP.