Tour De France: Hunter Makes History

Cycling: Robert Hunter has won the 11th stage of the Tour de France, while Michael Rasmussen of Denmark retained the leader's yellow jersey.

South Africa's Robert Hunter took the sprint spoils to win the 11th stage of the Tour de France, as leading contender Christophe Moreau slipped out of contention.

Hunter produced an impressive sprint at the end of the 113-mile-long route from Marseille to Montpellier, which had been ridden under a fiercely hot sun. It was the first-ever stage victory by a South African. "I'm really happy" he said. "I have no words to describe what I'm feeling right now. I've done the Tour de France six times, and I'm the first South African ever to ride in it."

Hunter won in 3 hours, 47 minutes, 50 seconds, outpacing the second-placed Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland and Murilo Fischer of Brazil in third. The main pack of riders finished in the same time. Hunter's Barloworld team has now won a second stage at its debut Tour after Juan Mauricio Soler claimed the ninth stage on Tuesday.

Michael Rasmussen retained his lead over his main rivals for the yellow jersey, with the main standings as they were, apart from the sixth-placed Moreau, who failed to keep up with the leading group of riders and lost a further 3min 19sec.

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