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

The 160.5-km stage from St Leonard de Noblat had looked set to be won by Italy's 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, chasing an unprecedented sixth Tour crown, remains sixth.