Cavendish wins 15th stage of Tour

Britain’s Mark Cavendish continued his domination of the Tour de France sprint stages on Sunday by claiming his fourth win of the race to take his career tally to an unrivalled 19 on stage 15.

France’s Thomas Voeckler, of the Europcar team, remained in the yellow jersey after the mainly flat but wind-buffeted ride over 193 km from Limoux to Montpellier which had the overall contenders fighting for survival.

Voeckler maintained his 1min 49sec lead on Luxembourg’s Frank Schleck, with Australian Cadel Evans in third at 2:06.

Andy Schleck, the runner-up the past two years, is fourth at 2:15 while three-time and reigning champion Alberto Contador of Spain is seventh at 4:00.

Cavendish meanwhile showed that when his team are in control, he is virtually unstoppable.

After a strong ride by his HTC team, which helped chase down an earlier five-man breakaway and then countered a late move by Philippe Gilbert, Cavendish was quick to share the plaudits.

“I don’t think there’s been one of my 19 wins that I’ve done alone, and that just shows the commitment those guys have towards me and I’m incredibly lucky for that,” said Cavendish.

“I crossed the finish line first but it’s not just me. I did 200 metres today in a 200 km stage. The team rode and delivered me to the line. I’m incredibly proud to be associated with them.”

After a windy ride into Montpellier which had Evans, the Schlecks and Contador nervously trying to avoid losing time due to splits in the peloton, HTC remained in control despite the technical approach to the finish line.

The cosmopolitan American outfit kept their composure when Belgian champion Gilbert, Cavendish’s principle rival for the points competition’s green jersey, launched an attack with three kilometres to race.

HTC-Highroad were patient, reeled the Omega-Pharma rider in and went about leading Cavendish out for the final drive for the line.

With just over 200 metres to race Cavendish emerged from the wheel of Australian lead-out man Mark Renshaw and drove hard for the finish where he beat American Tyler Farrar of Garmin-Cervelo into second place.

Monday is the second rest day of the race, which resumes Tuesday with a hilly 162.5 km ride from Saint-Paul-Trois-Chateaux to Gap on stage 16.

Voeckler is likely to keep the yellow jersey at least until then, however despite punching above his weight to keep the lead in the Pyrenees the Frenchman said he is under no illusions.

He said: “I give myself zero percent chance of winning the Tour de France.”
 

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