 His 144-mile triumph was not his first in a major stage race, but it's sweeter than when he won a stage at the Tour of Italy two years ago. That day, he was hit in the eye with a cork from a bottle of champagne and forced to abandon the race. Brian Clark, ABC News. High-stakes campaigning in France this week. Snap elections Sunday, moving the far-right National Rally Party closer to government. Voters could still block their path to power in the runoff this coming weekend.