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French cyclists left behind in Tour

Gianpaolo Mondini gave Italy their seventh stage victory in the Tour de France, virtually ending the host country's hopes of winning a stage this year.

The Cantina-Tollo rider, who took part in the Tour only because another Italian team -- Vini Caldirola -- were excluded after their leader was suspended for failing a blood test, seized his opportunity three kilometres from the finish.

Mondini parted company with his 12 breakaway companions to win in four hours 17 minutes and 43 seconds.

''I'd like to dedicate this victory to my fiancee, who has been very patient since I've been away for 40 days,'' said Mondini, who turned 27 a week ago.

Lance Armstrong of the United States easily retained his race leader's yellow jersey after finishing within the main bunch, 3:07 behind Mondini.

Armstrong will also be the favourite to win his third time trial in tomorrow's 57 km test around the Futuroscope theme park near the western town of Poitiers.

The last rider to win all three time trials in the Tour was five-times race winner Miguel Indurain of Spain in 1992.

Winner of the Tour of Sweden two years ago and of the Santander Classic last year, the towering Mondini was a virtual unknown before this 187-km 18th stage from Jonzac to the Futuroscope park.

France, who have won at least one stage in every Tour since 1926, had great hopes of a first victory in this flat and sunny ride with five home riders among the 13 in the decisive breakaway.

The leading group took shape in one of the rare climbs of the day, the Pamproux Hill 55 kms before the finish, and rapidly took a lead of over two minutes over the following pack.

French champion Francois Simon, La Francaise des Jeux's leader Jean-Cyril Robin, veteran Thierry Bourguignon, Claude Lamour and Frederic Bessy joined forces to lead a compatriot to victory but Mondini took the French guard by surprise.

He attacked while Bessy was throwing a bottle in a ditch, quickly took a hundred yards lead and never looked back.

''I knew Bessy was tired and I tried my luck. I kept my eyes on the meter and I was never under 50 kph,'' he said.

Robin had to be content with second place while Kazakh Alexander Vinokourov was third, also three seconds behind.

French hopes will be very slim in Saturday's time trial even though Christophe Moreau can hope to challenge the best.

The home country's chances in the last stage to Paris on Sunday are also very slim since sprinters like Belgian Tom Steels or German Erik Zabel should again have the final word.

In today's stage, which started with a demonstration by angry brandy makers, Zabel took a big step toward winning his fourth consecutive points standings green jersey as his leading rival, Australian Stuart o'Grady, crashed again.