Update: Sandy Casar wins Stage 18 after hitting dog
Cedric Vasseur became the first Frenchman to win a Tour de France stage in 2007 when he sprinted from a five-man breakaway in the last few yards before the finish line in Marseille.
The peloton finished about 10 minutes later, but Michael Rasmussen's yellow jersey was safe on his shoulders.
The 142-mile race from Tallard to Marseille was a restful stage for most of the peloton. It was the first out of the Alps and featured just four hills, two category 4's and two category 3's.
Eleven cyclists formed a breakaway which gained up to 12 minutes on the peloton as it headed south. On the first third climb — Côte des Bastides, Jens Voigt (Team CSC) attacked the breakaway but was pulled back.
Then Patrice Halgand (Crédit Agricole), Michael Albasini (Liquigas), and Sandy Casar (Française Des Jeux) rode clear over the summit, but were caught on the downhill by Vasseur (Quick Step) and Voigt.
Those five stayed together to within sight of the finish. They kept up enough of a pace that the chase group didn't catch them, then Vasseur launched himself past the other four and barely beat Casar to the finish line.
CyclingNews says it was Vasseur's second Tour de France win, coming 10 years after his first.
Since all the Top 10 finished about 10 minutes later with Rasmussen, there was absolutely no change:
1. Michael Rasmussen (Rabobank)
2. Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) — 2:35
3. Iban Mayo (Saunier Duval-Prodir) — 2:39
4. Cadel Evans (Predictor-Lotto) — 2:41
5. Alberto Contador (Discovery Channel) — 3:08
6. Christophe Moreau (Ag2r Prévoyance) — 3:18
7. Carlos Sastre (Team CSC) — 3:39
8. Andreas Klöden (Astana) — 3:50
9. Levi Leipheimer (Discovery Channel) — 3:53
10. Kim Kirchen (T-Mobile) — 5:06
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