British veteran rider David Millar led a five-man breakaway to take the yellow jersey in the 12th and longest stage of the Tour de France on Friday, setting himself up nicely for the sea-side stretch of the race.
Fellow Brit Bradley Wiggins retained the overall leader's yellow jersey, just about 8 minutes back of the breakaway bunch from Thursday's action. The 140-mile ride from Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne to Annonay-Davezieux featured two big climbs as the race winded it way out of the French Alps.
The 35-year-old Millar edged Frenchman Jean-Christophe Peraud at the finish line, mere seconds ahead of three other racers. Millar collected his fourth career Tour stage victory, though it was his first since 2003. He also became the fourth Brit to win a Tour stage this year after Mark Cavendish, Christopher Froome and Wiggins.
The race moves towards the Mediterranean on Saturday for France's July 14 national holiday, Bastille Day, with a 135-mile sprint from Saint-Paul-Trois-Chateaux to the coastal resort of Le Cap d'Agde.
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