Lance Armstrong: Still has the yellow jersey

During the final finish, the Colombian, who had tried to move ahead at the 2km mark, had no answer to Dekker's superior sprint.

Dekker won in five hours, six minutes, 47 seconds.

Tour leader Armstrong finished in 24th place, five minutes, five seconds behind Dekker, but clocked the same time as Germany's Jan Ullrich, who is second in the standings.

Armstrong's lead was not threatened by the performances of Dekker or Botero.

Botero had started the day in 45th place, 17:40 behind American Armstrong, while the 28-year-old Dekker was a distant 61st.

Front two

Erik Dekker: Another triumph

Speaking shortly after his sprint finish victory, Dekker said: "I knew that he (Botero) was going to attack on the final climb and I really went through the pain barrier to stay with him.

"I don't think he chose the right moment to turn around and look at me because when he did I just smiled back at him to fool him into thinking that I was stronger than I really was," he said.

With Dekker still on his wheel after the final climb, Botero realised the stage win was not going to be his.

"I couldn't shake him off and had given up hope of winning the stage once we started the descent," the Kelme rider said.

Riders have a rest day on Wednesday before Thursday's 12th leg, a 149km course, which includes a tough climb up Mont Ventoux.