Australia's [ Images ] Robbie McEwen has won a wild sprint finish to capture the ninth stage of the Tour de France [ Images ].

The 160.5-km stage from St Leonard de Noblat had looked set to be won by Italy's [ Images ] Filippo Simeoni or Spain's Inigo Landaluze until the bunch caught the pair just 50 metres from the line setting up a sprint finish on Tuesday.

McEwen then powered ahead of Norway's Thor Hushovd and Australia's Stuart O'Grady, all three riders separated by less than a half wheel.

Frenchman Thomas Voeckler continued to wear the leader's yellow jersey ahead of O'Grady while American Lance Armstrong [ Images ], chasing an unprecedented sixth Tour crown, remains sixth.