DIGNE-LES-BAINS, France -- David Moncoutie gave France its first victory in this year's Tour de France with a comfortable win in Thursday's Stage 12, a 117-mile stretch from Briancon to Digne-les-Bains.

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Moncoutie's triumph highlighted a strong performance by the French on the country's national holiday, Bastille Day. Countrymate Sandy Casar placed second, 57 seconds behind Moncoutie's winning time of 4:20.06, while two other Frenchmen, Patrice Hagland and Franco Pellizotti, finished fourth and sixth, respectively.

Six-time defending champion Lance Armstrong retained his 38-second advantage over Denmark's Michael Rasmussen for the overall lead. The American star ended 41st as a part of the peloton which finished 10 minutes, 33 seconds in back of Moncoutie. Rasmussen was also in the main pack and placed 46th, while France's Christophe Moreau remains third following a 44th-place performance on Thursday.

Belgian Tom Boonen, who held the green jersey as the race's sprint points leader, withdrew from the race after injuring his right knee in a crash on Wednesday. Norway's Thor Hushovd took over the lead in the sprint competition and kept it after finishing ninth in Stage 12.