Graham Watson

Frenchman Christophe Agnolutto grabs a stage win for the home team

There were little changes in the overall standings, with Italian Alberto Elli (Telekom) retaining his race leader's jersey for the second day.

Agnolutto, 30, claimed the biggest stage win of his career as he broke from the field after 80 kilometers en route to his victory in the flat 205.5-kilometer Tours to Limoges road race in 5 hours, 11 minutes and 41 seconds.

Marcel Wust (Festina) of Germany, the winner of the fifth stage, was second in the field sprint, finishing 1 minute and 11 seconds behind Agnolutto. Compatriot Erik Zabel (Telekom) finished third on his 30th birthday.

Agnolutto, whose team is sponsored by a French insurance agency, began the day in 82nd position, more than 11 minutes behind Elli. He built his margin to more than seven minutes after 120 kilometers before the field began to aggressively pursue the solo rider.

The winner of the 1997 Tour of Switzerland, Agnolutto became the first French stage winner of the Tour since Jacky Durand's victory in the eighth stage of the 1998 race.

Elli, the third cyclist to wear the yellow jersey as the race completed its first week, holds a 12-second advantage over Fabrice Gougot (Credit Agricole) of France. Marc Wauters (Rabobank) of Belgium is third overall, trailing by 1:17.

Defending titlist Lance Armstrong (USPS) finished 20th in the stage in the main group with Elli and remains 12th in the general classification, trailing by 5:54.

The peloton, which had not lost any riders since before the opening stage July 1, began the seventh stage without two of its veteran performers.

Australian Stuart O'Grady (Credit Agricole), who crashed but rode the final 85 kilometers of the sixth stage with a broken collarbone, did not start the seventh stage. Jesper Skibby (Memory Card-Jack & Jones) of Denmark abandoned the race early in the seventh stage, ending his 11th Tour de France participation.