Britain's Millar wins 12th and longest stage of Tour de France as race leaves
ANNONAY, France - British veteran David Millar led a five-man breakaway to win the 12th stage of the Tour de France on Friday as the race left the Alps on the longest stage this year.
Bradley Wiggins of Britain retained the yellow jersey as he kept pace with his main rivals in the pack about eight minutes back of the breakaway bunch.
The 226-kilometre ride from Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne to Annonay-Davezieux featured two big climbs.
Millar, a 35-year-old Scot, swatted his fist in the air as he edged Frenchman Jean-Christophe Peraud at the line in their two-man sprint — just seconds ahead of three others also in the breakaway.
Millar collected his fourth career Tour stage victory, and his first since 2003. He also became the fourth Briton to win a Tour stage this year, after Mark Cavendish, Christopher Froome and Wiggins.
The race heads toward the Mediterranean on Saturday for France's July 14 national holiday — Bastille Day — with a 217-kilometre jaunt from Saint-Paul-Trois-Chateaux to the coastal resort of Le Cap d'Agde, known for its nudist colony.
