British sprint king Mark Cavendish made amends for defeat by German rival Andre Greipel by notching up his 18th career victory in the Tour de France in the race’s 11th stage on Wednesday. Frenchman Thomas Voeckler, of Europcar, retained the yellow jersey after the 167.5km stage from Blaye-les-Mines to Lavaur, which ended in a group sprint after an early breakaway was caught 4km from the finish. Voeckler finished the stage with all the yellow jersey favourites to retain his lead of 1min 49sec on Spaniard Luis Leon Sanchez of Rabobank.
The biggest yellow jersey contenders, Cadel Evans, Andy Schleck and Alberto Contador, sit in third, fifth and 16th places respectively at 2:26, 2:37 and 4:07 behind Voeckler. Despite a late burst of rain hindering the peloton’s bid to catch a six-man breakaway that escaped inside the first 10km, Cavendish’s HTC-Highroad were determined not to let the stage win slip away. With Cavendish tipped for the win, they were given only scant help in the chase by rival sprinters’ teams but in the end he was brought to the line in determined fashion by Australian lead-out man Mark Renshaw.
In a tense finale Greipel tried to get back on to Cavendish’s wheel to launch a final burst, but as the German reached top-end speed Cavendish surged over the line to win by over a bike length. After taking possession of the green jersey for the points competition from Belgian champion Philippe Gilbert, the 26-year-old from the Isle of Man was ecstatic.
“It’s incredible to have the green jersey, it’s the most beautiful jersey in the world,” said Cavendish, who also won stage five in Cap Frehel and stage seven in Chateauroux. “I have to thank my team-mates for the work they did today, even the guys who are in the top ten overall gave it one hundred percent and that shows what a great team we are.” Cavendish had been beaten to victory on stage 10 by Greipel as the German took his maiden win in the race Tuesday. Despite admitting the German’s sprint was one of the “most technically perfect” he had seen, defeat only made him more determined. “It was technically perfect,” added Cavendish. “But at dinner last night I spoke with the team and said to them I planned to go out and win tomorrow (Wednesday), it’s as simple as that.”
Thursday’s 12th stage is the first of three in a row in the Pyrenees and is expected to host the first skirmishes in the yellow jersey battle between Contador, Schleck and Evans. Voeckler will wear the jersey at the start, but is not optimistic about keeping it after what should be a thrilling 211km of racing. “It was quite a stressful day but we kept the yellow jersey so it finished well,” said Voeckler. “If we lose the yellow jersey tomorrow then we’ll do so knowing that we gave it everything. But to be honest, I fully expect to lose it tomorrow.” Dutchman Johnny Hoogerland of Vacansoleil, who had 33 stitches in leg wounds on Monday after being hit by a car on Sunday’s ninth stage, is wearing the King of the Mountains’ polka dot jersey. Compatriot Robert Gesink, of Rabobank, is still in possession of the white jersey for the top placed rider aged 25 and under.
