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After trying since the start of the Tour de France to win a stage, the host country's highest-paid rider, Sylvain Chavanel, finally managed it in Montlucon. Very emotional: Sylvain Chavanel finally wins a stage of the Tour Photo: Getty Images In a similar finish to the previous day, Chavanel out-sprinted his breakaway companion and countryman, Jeremy Roy, and then broke down in tears. Chavanel’s victory ahead of Roy was the third French stage win of the Tour, but it is a sign of how far the home nation has fallen that a stage win means so much. The highest-placed French rider in the overall standings is 18th-placed Sandy Casar, and he is more than 12 minutes down on the yellow jersey, worn by Carlos Sastre. It is 23 years since the great Bernard Hinault managed the last home overall victory, but three stage wins makes for an... [read full story]
