Alessandro Petacchi has sprinted to his fourth stage win of this year's Tour de France, winning today's 230-km sixth stage from Nevers to Lyon.
The Italian emerged from the bunch yet again after they had reeled in Australian Stuart O'Grady and Frenchman Anthony Geslin, who had led for nearly 200km, in the last 500 metres.
But while Petacchi will rightly take the laurels for a tremendous first-week sprinting performance, race favourite Lance Armstrong will be quietly delighted to have reached the foot of the Alps perfectly poised to launch his challenge for a fifth successive victory.
Whereas the American is usually lagging behind the other leading contenders before the first mountain stage, he will this time tackle the first big climb with a comfortable lead over his rivals.
The Texan took it easy in the long 230-km ride from Nevers, finishing a comfortable 39th to remain one place and one second behind race-leading team mate Victor Hugo Pena of Colombia in the overall standings.
Reuters