Cedric Vasseur of France captured the 10th stage of the Tour de France on Wednesday in a sprint finish to notch his first victory in the storied cycling race since 1997. 

Vasseur, a member of the Quick Step team, outsprinted four other riders in a breakaway pack to finish the long, 229.5-kilometre stage in five hours, 20 minutes 24 seconds.

The Frenchman edged out countryman Sandy Casar by 7.2 centimetres at the finish line, while Swiss rider Michael Albasini was third in the trek which stretched south from Tallard to Marseille.

The victory was especially special for Vasseur, who plans to retire at the end of the year.

"I think I can leave cycling with my head held high," he said.

Michael Rasmussen of Denmark finished 30th in Wednesday's stage and will retain the leader's yellow jersey for Stage 11.

With files from the Associated Press