France's Cedric Vasseur broke away unexpectedly to seize the victory in the 10th stage of the Tour de France, with fellow Frenchman Sandy Casar only an inch behind.
The race was between the final five— Vasseur, Sandy Casar, Jens Voigt (CSC,) Michael Albasini(Liquigas,) and Patrice Halgando (Credit Agricole)—through the last several dozen kilometers, with the peloton twelve minutes back.
The lead five sparred and sprinted, launching test attacks in turn, trying to open a gap. None of the lead riders cracked, and the front five were in a tight group coming into the last 400 meters, with Jens Voight in the lead, followed closely by Albasini.
Voight tried to cling to the right-hand barrier so that he only had to watch for attacks from the left. However, as the finish line approached his concentration wavered and he left a slight gap.
With a hundred meters to go, Quick Step rider Vasseur snuck by Voight in the right and exploded away from the field. Vasseur gained five meters before the rest of the group could react. Voight and Albasini, the favorites, were unable to respond, while French rider Sandy Cesar was almost able to catch Vasseur.
Casar, riding for Francaise des Jeux, had been dropped by the pack after leading early on. He clawed his way back through the peloton, and ended up coming withing the width of a tire of taking the stage.
This was the first stage win by a Frenchman in this year's Tour.
 Cedric Vasseur rides with breakaway riders during the tenth stage of the Tour de France. (Franck Fife/AFP/Getty Images)
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 France's Sandy Casar leads Patrice Halgand also of France, Germany's Jens Voigt, France's Cedric Vasseur during their breakaway in the tenth stage of the 94th Tour de France cycling race between Tallard and Marseille. (Franck Fife/AFP/Getty Images)
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