Millar was in the five rider break for most of the tough climbing stage, with the first part made even more difficult by a fast moving peloton chasing sprint points. Then again the finale the other four rider left it to Millar to chase down all the attacks, knowing the Scotsman was the strongest in the group.

In the final three kilometers Millar latched onto the attack of Jean-Christophe Peraud, separating the two from the others. But after that it was all Millar into the final 250 meters. Peraud launched his attack for the line but Millar was clearly stronger, never letting him come around.

“I won stage 13 in 2002 and it was one of my proudest moments and this is very similar to that,” Millar said.

When asked about the difference between winning in a time trial, as he is more known for, compared to a road stage he said, “There is nothing quite like winning a road stage.”

Millar has been active in the breaks in recent stages, along with David Zabriskie and Dan Martin, in an effort to keep fighting through the first week of misfortune. That relentless effort paid off today with a magnificent win.

“It’s taken our team going through turmoil to bring this out of me. I never thought my time had passed. We needed it, I wanted it.”

Director of Competition Allan Peiper applauded Millar’s effort today as well as over the past week.

“He showed what an old soldier he is. They raced from the start and we knew if they got over the first climb away they had a chance.”