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Cervelo Test Team rider Thor Hushovd of Norway holds up his arms as he wins the sixth stage of the 96th Tour de France cycling race between Gerona and Barcelona, July 9, 2009. REUTERS/Jean-Paul Pelissier

BARCELONA (Reuters) - Thor Hushovd has always relished tough finishes and rainy conditions, both of which helped the Norwegian snatch his seventh Tour de France stage win in Barcelona on Thursday.

He surged in last stretch of the 181.5-km sixth stage from Girona to overpower two Spaniards in front of the 1992 Olympic Stadium -- pre-stage favorite Oscar Freire and Jose Joaquin Rojas.

Swiss Fabian Cancellara crossed the line in 10th place and retained his overall leader's yellow jersey. Seven-times champion Lance Armstrong, who came back from retirement in January, stayed in second.

"It was very nervous," Armstrong told reporters. There have not been many days I regretted my decision (to return to cycling). This might be one of them.

"We were always on the edge, with crashes all around, dangerous hills. There is one word to describe the day -- scary. It was nerve-wracking."

Hushovd's victory gave his team Cervelo their first win in the race.

"I knew I could do something in this stage but it was very hard because of the weather conditions and the slippery roads," the 31-year-old said.

"It was Cervelo's first goal to win a stage, now we can concentrate on helping Carlos Sastre retain his Tour crown," he added.

Spain's Sastre was one of many riders to crash during the rain-soaked stage, but he made it back on his bike unhurt.

CHASING MILLAR

Belgian champion Tom Boonen also hit the tarmac shortly before the last climb, squandering his chance of fighting for stage victory.

Boonen, who was giving a last minute go-ahead for the Tour after an out-of-competition test for cocaine, was in the leading bunch chasing Briton David Millar.

Millar, winner of three stages before his two-year suspension in 2004 for doping, had broken with less than 30 km to go.

He was caught with less than two kilometers to go when the climb became steepest.

"The stage started from my home town of Girona and I know the roads in the area very well. I rode emotionally, with my heart rather than my head," the 32-year-old told reporters.

"When I saw the large roads in the last five kilometers, I told myself the peloton would have plenty of room to get organized. In the climb, I knew it was over, but it was still a good day," the Garmin-Slipstream rider added.

Millar initiated the most serious break of the day, alongside Frenchmen Stephane Auge and Sylvain Chavanel -- two of his former team mates at Cofidis -- who were later joined by Spaniard Amets Txurruka.

Their lead culminated at some three minutes before the main bunch reacted.

The first mountain stage of the Tour is on Friday, over 224 km from Barcelona to Andorra-Arcalis.

"I'm going to try and defend my yellow jersey as long as I can," said Cancellara.

"I proved in the Tour of Switzerland I had some climbing skills. If they're not enough, I'll pay back the team for what they've done for me and work for Frank and Andy Schleck," he added.

But most eyes will be on Armstrong and his Astana team leader Alberto Contador, who are expected to settle their friendly feud on the 10.6-km final climb to the ski resort of Arcalis.

"Tomorrow's stage is not the most important day but it's a big appointment of this Tour," Armstrong said.

(Editing by Alison Wildey)