His victory coincided with the 45th anniversary of the death of Tom Simpson, the first Briton ever to lead the Tour de France, but who died of exhaustion on the slopes of Mont Ventoux in 1967 after he had taken amphetamine and alcohol, a diuretic combination which proved fatal when combined with the heat.

The 35-year-old Millar, who represents Garmin-Sharp, won the sprint  to the line from France's Jean-Christophe Peraud, who finished second after the duo broke clear of their three other breakaway companions in the final 3km.

Millar, now a fervent anti-doping campaigner, won the 13th stage to Bezier in 2002, but asked for his time-trial win on stage 19 in 2003 to be wiped from the record books after confessing to the use of blood-booster Erythropoietin (EPO).

"This is as good a win as I've had in my career," said Millar.

"It's particularly poignant that it came today on the 45th anniversary of Tommy Simpson's death.

"I think it's a full circle in a way.

"I'm an ex-doper and I'm very proud of where our sport is today and what we've done to change it.

"The reason I was given a second chance is because I have a duty to not forget where I come from, to remind people of where our sport's been.

"I think we mustn't forget the past and I'm one of the people who have made mistakes and I want people to know that I am clean now and the sport is a different sport.

"We should be very proud of it."


Millar is set to compete in his first Olympics in 12 years at London 2012 after the British Olympic Association's bylaw banning those with prior doping suspensions was scrapped.

Team Sky trio Mark Cavendish, Chris Froome and Bradley Wiggins, who retained the race leader's yellow jersey, had already won stages this year and Millar joined them.

Now all four of Britain's Olympic road race team riding in the Tour have won a stage, a remarkable achievement whose cycling heritage does not compare to countries like Belgium, France and Italy.

"Our Olympic team is basically a winning Tour de France team and we're going to be a force to be reckoned with," said Millar.

"I never thought that would happen.

"I never thought Team Sky would ever get to that level.

"It's an amazing achievement and I doff my cap to them."

Cavendish was reprimanded by race commissaries after he got a puncture during the race and then passed by team support vehicles on the wrong side when returning to the peloton.

He was later fined 230 Swiss Francs (£650/$1,000/€830).

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