After cyclist David Millar became the fourth Briton to savour victory at the 2012 Tour de France, Mark Cavendish was bidding to continue the show of force on the shores of the Mediterranean on Saturday.
Millar won the 226-kilometre route from Saint-Jean de Maurienne to Annonay-Davezieux after a day-long escape. Millar is set to compete in the Olympics, with world champion Cavendish as leader in the London 2012 road race.
Tour leader Bradley Wiggins, second-placed Chris Froome and Cavendish had already won Tour stages before Millar's success, meaning the only member of the British team not to win a Tour stage is Ian Stannard, who was not selected by Team Sky.
After negotiating the Alps, Cavendish was set to bid for his 22nd Tour stage win on the 217km 13th stage from Saint-Paul-Trois-Chateaux to Cap d'Agde, which appears likely to end in a sprint finish.
"Our Olympic team is basically a winning Tour de France team and we're going to be a force to be reckoned with," Millar said on Eurosport. "I never thought that would happen. I never thought Team Sky would ever get to that level. It's an amazing achievement and I doff my cap to them."
Millar's triumph was sealed when he won the dash to the line from Jean-Christophe Peraud (Ag2r La Mondiale).
"This is as good a win as I've had in my career," said Millar.