Millar time on Le Tour as Wiggins stays in control

David Millar became the fourth Briton to savour victory on the 2012 Tour de France with a win on stage 12 yesterday.

Twelve years after winning the prologue on his Tour debut and six after completing a two-year doping ban, the 35-year-old was triumphant on the 226-kilometre route from Saint-Jean de Maurienne to Annonay-Davezieux after a day-long escape.

On the 45th anniversary of the death of Tom Simpson, Britain’s first leader of the Tour, Millar (Garmin-Sharp) won the dash to the line from Jean-Christophe Peraud (Ag2r La Mondiale), 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 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.”

Bradley Wiggins retained the maillot jaune as the peloton finished almost eight minutes adrift, with Wiggins safely in the pack.

Ireland’s Nicolas Roche also finished in the pack, coming in 14th. The Ag2r La Mondiale rider stays in 13th place on general classification, 10 minutes 49 seconds behind Wiggins.

Ireland’s other competitor, Dan Martin, finished 91st on the day and slipped one place to 52nd overall (@1h03’31’’).