Thor thunders to stage victory

NORWAY’S Thor Hushovd claimed his first stage victory of this year’s Tour de France as a chaotic closing 10 kilometres climaxed in a thrilling uphill sprint in Quimper.

The Credit Agricole rider was unaffected by a loose dog which brought down a host of cyclists and burst past a number of big-name sprinters on the climb to the finish.

Wearing the Norwegian flag proudly on his cycling vest, Hushovd held off a strong challenge from Kim Kirchen of the Fassa Bortolo team.