The Hindu : Sport / Cycling : Cavendish wins fifth stage

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Thursday, Jul 10, 2008
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Cavendish wins fifth stage

CYCLING / Schumacher has the yellow jersey

— Photo: AFP

RIDING HIGH: Britain’s Mark Cavendish winning the 232-km fifth and longest stage of the Tour de France.

CHATEAUROUX (France): Mark Cavendish of Britain won a sprint to take the fifth — and longest — stage of the Tour de France on Wednesday, and German rider Stefan Schumacher held on to the overall leader’s yellow jersey.

Cavendish beat Oscar Freire of Spain and veteran German sprinter Erik Zabel on the line at the end of the 232-kilometer (144-mile) flat stage from Cholet to Chateauroux.

Three Frenchmen — Lilian Jegou, Nicolas Vogondy and Florent Brard — hit the front after 11 kilometers (7 miles) and at one point had a lead of more than eight minutes.

However, the field never seemed concerned, and the riders worked together to catch the breakaway almost on the finish line.

“It’s the biggest thing that’s happened to me,” the 23-year-old Cavendish said. “To win a stage of the Tour is a massive thing. I came here with the intention of winning one. It just means so, so much to me.”

Cavendish had been disappointed that Monday’s third stage was won by a breakaway, giving no opportunity for the sprinters to fight out the victory.

Cavendish, who comes from the Isle of Man, was selected by British Cycling on Tuesday to ride the madison on the track at the Beijing Olympics along with Bradley Wiggins. The pair won the world championships in the event in March. He is not slated to compete in the road races, however.

Schumacher held on to his 12-second overall lead from Kim Kirchen of Luxembourg and David Millar of Britain.

Spanish rider Alejandro Valverde, who is among the overall Tour contenders, hit debris in the road about 80 kilometers (50 miles) into the stage and went over his handlebars. He injured his right arm, right knee and calf, but got back on his bike and continued riding.

French cyclist Aurelien Passeron hit a female spectator about five kilometers (three miles) from the end of the race. Passeron got back on his bike and continued, but finished well back.

Colombian rider Juan Mauricio Soler, who has ridden with injured wrists since crashing in Saturday’s first stage, pulled out of the race early into the stage.

He was the King of the Mountains champion as the Tour’s best climber last year. — AP

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