American Horner taken at finish line by McEwen

 Horner and Sylvain Chavanel were checking each other on the run into Montpellier when sprinter Robbie McEwen and the peloton swallowed them up less than 100 yards from the finish line. It marks McEwen's third win of the nearly two-week-old Tour.

Horner had been in a breakaway for most of the day with four other riders. Although they had a 9-minute margin at one point, the peloton got close enough within 9 miles for Chavanel to jump out to the breakaway group, which split again with just Chavanel and Horner going out ahead, taking turns at the head.

That lasted until the final kilometer, after Horner chose not to take his turn pulling Chavanel — understandable tactics in a sprint. Fred Rodriguez, a US cyclist riding for Davitamon-Lotto, charged at the head of the peloton, leading teammate McEwen to the stage victory. Stuart O'Grady finished second, Rodriguez third, and still another US rider, Guido Trenti, in fourth.

Horner talked to VeloNews after the race, and had to smile about the outcome.

“I've seen it happen to many other riders and I knew it was going to happen to me sooner or later. Too bad it had to come at the Tour. Still, it was a spectacular day.”

In his CyclingNews diary, Horner wrote:

 “I wasn't disappointed at all how it turned out; it all came down to tactics. We were both racing for the win and neither of us were going to settle for second. That's just the way it happens.”

Horner recorded a 10th place finish. Even though he didn't win, his presence was felt throughout the 107-mile, mostly flat stage from Miramas to Montpellier. That's outstanding for a rider in his first season in Europe.

A resident of Bend, Oregon, the 33-year-old racer for Saunier Duval-Prodir already has a stage win to his credit in the Tour of Switzerland, in which he finished in fifth place overall. He dominated races in the US for the past three years.

VeloNews interviewed Horner early in this year's Tour. He said that he thought he could still  ride into the top 10 by the end of the Tour, despite his lackluster opening time trial. Later, he told ProCycling that he had adjusted his goals after losing time on the Galibier and was just looking for a stage win.