Sylvain Chavanel's persistence was rewarded today with a first stage victory on the Tour de France.
The Frenchman, who had unsuccessfully attacked again and again in this year's race, beat compatriot Jeremy Roy in a sprint finish after the two broke away on the 165.5km 19th stage from Roanne.
German Gerald Ciolek won the sprint of the bunch to take third place a little more than a minute behind the front two as Spaniard Carlos Sastre retained the overall leader's yellow jersey after spending a quiet day in the peloton.
"I was frustrated because I had been trying so hard and every time I had failed," said Chavanel, who is to join the Quick Step team from Cofidis next season.
"This year, I have overcome a barrier. It's the best gift I could offer Cofidis."
Chavanel has seven victories under his belt this year, including the Fleche Brabanconne semi-classic and a stage win in the Paris-Nice.
The top of the standings remained unchanged with Sastre leading CSC team mate Frank Scheck of Luxembourg by one minute and 24 seconds.
Austrian Bernhard Kohl is third 1:33 adrift and Australian Cadel Evans fourth one second further behind.
Sastre and Evans are expected to battle it out for overall victory in Saturday's decisive time trial over 53 km.
After a few abortive moves, Roy and Chavanel broke away at 80 kms and never looked back, opening up a five-minute lead over the peloton.
The Liquigas, Caisse d'Epargne and Barloworld teams chased the pair to offer victory to their sprinters but ended 1:13 behind the two attackers.