McEwen wins dramatic sprint as break swarmed at line
Australian Robbie McEwen became the first double stage winner of this year's Tour de France with his victory in the ninth stage - the last chance for the sprinters to win before the race enters the mountains on Wednesday. In one of the tightest finishes so far, McEwen (Lotto-Domo) beat Norway's Thor Hushovd (Crédit Agricole) and Australian Stuart O'Grady (Cofidis) in 3:32:55 to take the 160.5km stage from Saint Leonard de Noblet to Gueret. “I'm happy I've won two bunch sprints,” McEwen said. “I probably had a chance at another couple, but you can't win every day. “After today I feel like I