France might not have triumphed in Germany in the World Cup, but they’re not doing too shabbily on their own soil. Pierrick Fedrigo (Bouyges Telecom), the 2005 French champion, powered to a win in today’s stage into Gap, “outsprinting a surprised Salvatore Commesso (Lampre-Fondital) in a two man finish,” says CyclingNews.com.

It was another breakaway day, with Fedrigo and Commesso being the two lone survivors of a six-man break that got away at 34km. Oscar Pereiro’s Caisse d’Epargne squad never even let them get six minutes on the peloton, unlike yesterday’s half-hour gap. On the final climb (15km to go), Commesso and Fedrigo were finally on their own, though they only managed to hold off the field by a few seconds. Christian Vandevelde (Team CSC) was best of the rest to take third.