Cycling: Moncoutie gives France win on Bastille Day

DIGNE-LES-BAINS, France - David Moncoutie celebrated Bastille Day by handing the host country its first stage victory in this year's Tour de France on Thursday.

The Cofidis rider, winner of a stage in Figeac last year, broke clear on the main climb of the 187-km 12th stage between Briancon and Digne-les-Bains.

"It's fabulous. I was really bad in the Alps and I wanted to take my revenge in this stage," the 30-year-old French climber said.

"I wanted it so badly to salvage my Tour. To win on July 14 is just great. I'm so happy."

Another Frenchman, Sandy Casar, was second and Spain's Angel Vicioso was third.

Moncoutie belonged to a group of 13 riders, who had received permission to have their day by six-times champion and overall leader Lance Armstrong.

The American finished in the main bunch, more than 10 minutes behind Moncoutie as he and his main rivals relaxed a bit after two stages in the Alps.

Armstrong retained his 38-second lead over Dane Michael Rasmussen in the overall standings. France's Christophe Moreau is third, 2:34 behind.

The 13 breakaways included three Frenchmen, Moncoutie, Casar and Patrice Halgand, three Spaniards, Vicioso, Juan Manuel Garate and Jose Luis Arrieta, Belgian Axel Merckx, Germany's Stephan Schreck and two green jersey contenders, Norway's Thor Hushovd and Australian Stuart O'Grady.

The group gradually built a solid gap over the main bunch, culminating at just over 10 minutes on the line.

In the main climb of the day, the second category Corobin pass, Moncoutie tried his luck hoping to give France its first stage win in this Tour.

The Cofidis rider took a 40-second lead at the top and managed to hold it until the finish line as the chasing group failed to cooperate.

Even though a ceasefire had been agreed between the main Tour contenders, Armstrong suffered a blow with the withdrawal of his Spanish team mate Manuel Beltran, after a crash.

Beltran suffered concussion in the incident. A scan showed no brain damage but the Spaniard will stay in hospital in Gap for 24 hours, Tour organisers said.

Belgian Tom Boonen, winner of two stages in the first week, also pulled out of the race with a knee injury after crashing the previous day.

Boonen, who was leading the points classification, handed the green jersey to Hushovd.

One day after the arrest of Italian Dario Frigo on doping charges, the Tour caravan was visited by customs officers, who stopped and searched five team cars and vans at the motorway toll but found nothing.

The International Cycling Union (UCI) also announced that all drug tests conducted in the first week of the Tour had been negative.

- REUTERS