Sylvain Chavanel's persistence was rewarded yesterday with a first stage victory on the Tour de France.

The Frenchman, who had unsuccessfully attacked again and again in this year's race, beat compatriot Jeremy Roy in a sprint finish after the two broke away on the 165.5-km 19th stage from Roanne.

German Gerald Ciolek won the sprint of the bunch to take third place a little more than a minute behind the front two as Spaniard Carlos Sastre retained the overall leader's yellow jersey after spending a quiet day in the peloton.

"I was frustrated because I had been trying so hard and every time I had failed," said Chavanel, who is to join the Quick Step team from Cofidis next season.

"This year, I have overcome a barrier. It's the best gift I could offer Cofidis."

Chavanel has seven victories under his belt this year, including the Fleche Brabanconne semi-classic and a stage win in the Paris-Nice.

The top of the standings remained unchanged with Sastre leading CSC team-mate Frank Scheck, of Luxembourg, by one minute and 24 seconds.

Austrian Bernhard Kohl is third, 1:33 adrift and Australian Cadel Evans fourth one second further behind.

Sastre and Evans are expected to battle it out for overall victory in today's time trial over 53 km.

After a few abortive moves, Roy and Chavanel broke away at 80 kms and never looked back, opening up a five-minute lead over the peloton.

The Liquigas, Caisse d'Epargne and Barloworld teams chased the pair to offer victory to their sprinters but ended 1:13 behind the two attackers.