Vasseur Holds Firm for Stage Win

France's Cedric Vasseur emerged from a breakaway group to nick the 229.5km 10th stage of the Tour de France in a five-man group sprint.

After a nervous last four kilometers in which each member of a breakaway group of five waited for one of the others to make a move, the 36-year-old Quick Step rider, who will retire at the end of the season, used all his experience and guile to bluff and then blindside his opponents in a sprint finish, beating compatriot Sandy Casar to the line by less than the width of a wheel, with Switzerland's Michael Albasini of the Liquigas team in third.

Dane Michael Rasmussen of the Rabobank team retained the overall leader's yellow jersey after finishing in the bunch.

"I can now leave with my head high," said Vasseur afterwards. "Ten years ago, I wore the yellow jersey during five days. There are signs. I knew victory could not slip from my hands today."

Vasseur, who now has two Tour stage victories to his name, first raised his arms in triumph in La Chatre in 1997. The former US Postal and Cofidis rider was part of an 11-man breakaway that shaped up after 60km. In scorching heat, the fugitives built a 10-minute lead over the peloton, led by Rasmussen's Rabobank team. The day started with the announcement by the German federation of Patrik Sinkewitz's positive test for elevated levels of testosterone.

The T-Mobile rider, who pulled out of the Tour after colliding with a spectator after Sunday's stage, has been suspended by the team and his contract will be terminated should the B sample also be positive. The latest drugs controversy to dog the Tour has prompted Germany's state broadcasters ARD and ZDF to halt coverage of the race, which is watched by more than a million Germans, until the case is resolved.