Frenchman Thomas Voeckler timed his move to perfection to clinch a maiden win in the Tour de France yesterday after an early breakaway surprised the sprinters' teams.

Bouygues Telecom rider Voeckler attacked a group of fugitives with less than five kilometres to go in the 196.5-km stage from Cap d'Agde to Perpignan, beating Russian Mikhail Ignatiev by seven seconds.

Mark Cavendish won the peloton sprint to take third place.

Swiss Fabian Cancellara retained his overall leader's yellow jersey after finishing safely in the pack and still leads Lance Armstrong by a fraction of a second.

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