Cavendish Grabs Fourth Stage Win at the Tour de France

(July 23, 2010)

Report filed by Team Columbia

HTC-Columbia's Mark Cavendish netted his fourth stage win of the 2010 Tour on Friday, bringing his career total of victories in cycling's flagship event to 14.  Already victorious on stages five, six and 11 of the 2010 Tour, Cavendish's latest win came on stage 18's 19- kilometre run from Sales-de-Bearn to Bordeaux.  The HTC-Columbia rider sprinted across the finish line more than a bike length ahead of second-placed Julian Dean, and third-placed Italy's Alessandro Petacchi, to seize the seventh win of his 2010 season and 58th road victory of his professional career.

"When Petacchi accelerated with 275 metres to go, he surprised me," Cavendish said later.  "But I got past him okay and I was pretty happy about that.  It was easier than I expected.  I didn't know how big the gap was between me and the next guy was, though, because all I see is the finish line.  In any case, it doesn't matter how much or how little you win by, it's winning that matters."

Cavendish explained that he looked back at the peloton as he reached the line in order to keep his sprint effort to a minimum.  "I wanted to conserve as much energy as possible. Tomorrow [the Tour's last time trial] will be hard; 50 kilometres by myself."

Asked about his chances in  the green jersey competition, in which he is currently third, Cavendish said that at this point his aim is to take a final stage victory in Paris for a second year in the row.  "I've got to try to win on the Champs-Elysées, whatever the situation is, and that's all I can do.".

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