Spaniard Jose Miguel Mercado sprinted to his first win on the 18th stage of the Tour de France today, as overall leader Lance Armstrong sat back with his team before the final push to Paris.
Mercado edged out compatriot Jose Vicente Garcia Acosta to finish the 166.5-km stage between Annemasse and Lons-le-Saunier over 11 minutes ahead of the main bunch, which included Armstrong.
Armstrong, on the verge of a record sixth Tour victory, took it easy after winning the last three mountain stages to cross the line in the peloton 11 minutes and 29 seconds after Mercado.
"It was a pretty relaxed day because we let the six go. It's always good for the group," Armstrong said.
Armstrong had earlier on Friday displayed a show of strength following his three consecutive stage wins in the Alps, breaking away from the main bunch to chase the leading group.
The U.S. Postal leader attacked behind Italian Filippo Simeoni, who had surged ahead in a bid to catch the breakaway six.
Simeoni is one of the American's most bitter rivals off the bike. The two are involved in a legal battle with the Italian suing Armstrong for defamation.
But Garcia Acosta spoke to Armstrong, asking him to do the six a favour and leave them to fight for victory. Armstrong agreed, but only if Simeoni left the break as well.
"I was protecting the interests of the peloton and the other riders were very thankful," Armstrong said.
Results of the 18th stage from Annemasse to Lons-le-Saunier
1. Juan Miguel Mercado (Spain) Quick Step-Davitamon 4:04.03
2. Jose Vicente Garcia Acosta (Spain) Illes Balears same time
3. Dmitri Fofonov (Kazakhstan) Cofidis 11 seconds behind
4. Sebastien Joly (France) Credit Agricole
5. Marc Lotz (Netherlands) Rabobank
6. Juan Antonio Flecha Giannoni (Spain) Fassa Bortolo all same time
7. Thor Hushovd (Norway) Credit Agricole 11.29
8. Robbie McEwen (Australia) Lotto-Domo
9. Danilo Hondo (Germany) Gerolsteiner
10. Stuart O'Grady (Australia) Cofidis all same time
Overall standings (yellow jersey)
1. Lance Armstrong (U.S.) US Postal 78:20.28
2. Ivan Basso (Italy) Team CSC 4.09
3. Andreas Kloeden (Germany) T-Mobile 5.11
4. Jan Ullrich (Germany) T-Mobile 8.08
5. Jose Azevedo (Portugal) US Postal 10.41
6. Francisco Mancebo Perez (Spain) Illes Balears 11.45
7. Georg Totschnig (Austria) Gerolsteiner 12.56
8. Carlos Sastre (Spain) Team CSC 15.14
9. Levi Leipheimer (U.S.) Rabobank 16.25
10. Pietro Caucchioli (Italy) Alessio-Bianchi 16.33