Seventh heaven as McEwen centre stage

Tom Ross

McEwen, riding for the Davitamon-Lotto team, took his second stage victory of the 2005 Tour as he pipped Wales-based Swede Magnus Backstedt for the win with Bernhard Eisel of Austria finishing third.

Race leader and six-times Tour winner Lance Armstrong retained the leader's yellow jersey after the 228km ride to the German city of Karlsruhe from Luneville in France.