Vive la France as Nazon leads

ALESSANDRO PETACCHI blasted to his second stage victory in three days yesterday, but Jean-Patrick Nazon is sure to be the toast of France as the Tour moves into its fifth day.

After picking up 14 seconds of bonus time throughout the stage, Jean Delatour's Nazon did enough to snatch the yellow jersey away from Australian Bradley McGee to become the first French rider to lead the overall standings since Francois Simon in 2001.

On the day, Nazon finished in 14th, with Petacchi beating Romans Vainsteins of the Vini-Caldirola team and Rabobank's Oscar Freire into second and third respectively.