Belgian Tom Boonen, of Quick Step, won the 12th stage of the Tour de France to claim his second victory of this year's race.

Denmark's Michael Rasmussen, of the Rabobank team, retained the race leader's yellow jersey after the 178.5km race from Montpellier to Castres.

The finish was classic sprinting. Heading the pack for the last kilometre, Boonen's support riders gradually peeled away one by one, leaving him to burst ahead with 150m left to finish in 4hr 25min 32sec.

Boonen, who already holds the green jersey for the best sprinter, clenched his fists in the air as he crossed the line.

Erik Zabel, of Germany, was second with Robert Hunter, who became the first South African to win a stage yesterday, in third.

Rasmussen finished safely in the peloton along with his biggest challengers for the yellow jersey. The Dane is 2min 35sec ahead of second-place Alejandro Valverde and 2min 39sec in front of Iban Mayo in third.

Saturday's stage will feature the first big time trial of the race, a 54km race against the clock around the picturesque village of Albi — a discipline that Rasmussen acknowledges isn't his strength.