(Reuters) – Mark Cavendish left his tears behind and was all smiles as he powered to his second sprint victory in succession in the longest stage of the Tour de France in Gueugnon on Friday.
The Briton, in tears in Montargis after his first stage victory on this Tour, made the best of the Team Columbia train to win ahead of American Tyler Farrar and Italy’s Alessandro Petacchi.
Stage 6 Results
1 Mark Cavendish (GBr) Team HTC – Columbia - 5:37:42
2 Tyler Farrar (USA) Garmin – Transitions
3 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini
4 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Team Katusha
5 Gerald Ciolek (Ger) Team Milram
6 Sébastien Turgot (Fra) Bbox Bouygues Telecom
7 Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Caisse d’Epargne
8 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Sky Professional Cycling Team
9 Robert Hunter (RSA) Garmin – Transitions
10 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo Test Team
General classification after Stage 6
1 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team Saxo Bank - 28:37:30
2 Geraint Thomas (GBr) Sky Professional Cycling Team - 0:00:20
3 Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team - 0:00:39
4 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin – Transitions - 0:00:46
5 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Quick Step - 0:01:01
6 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank - 0:01:09
7 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo Test Team - 0:01:16
8 Alexander Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana - 0:01:31
9 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana - 0:01:40
10 Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto - 0:01:42
Jersey Standings:
Fabian Cancellara
Thor Hushovd
Jerome Pineau
Thomas Geraint
Links to news sites…
“Cavendish takes 6th stage for 2nd straight TDF win
By JAMEY KEATEN (AP)
GUEUGNON, France — Mark Cavendish made it two straight Tour de France stage victories Friday, leading a sprint for the line as the main title contenders finished in a closely trailing pack.
The 25-year-old native of Britain’s Isle of Man raised his hands in celebration at the end of the hot, mostly flat 141.3-mile sixth stage from Montargis to Gueugnon.
The HTC Columbia rider earned his 12th career Tour stage victory and fifth in all races this year — clocking 5 hours, 37 minutes, 42 seconds to edge Tyler Farrar of the U.S. and Alessandro Petacchi of Italy.
The main title contenders crossed 3 seconds after Cavendish. Defending champion Alberto Contador was 28th, seven-time champion Lance Armstrong was 38th, and overall race leader Fabian Cancellara was 41st.
The top of the standings didn’t change: Cancellara retained the yellow jersey he has worn everyday but one this year, Spaniard Contador stayed ninth overall, and Armstrong kept his 18th spot. Cadel Evans of Australia, a two-time Tour runner-up and the highest-placed potential title contender, is third — 39 seconds behind Cancellara.
The heat appeared to be taking a toll on the riders as Carlos Barredo of Spain and Rui Costa of Portugal got into a fight after the finish. The cause of the fracas was not immediately clear, but video footage posted on the website of sports daily L’Equipe showed Barredo of the Quick Step team charging toward Costa and attempting to strike him over the head with a bike wheel.” Read more from the AP…
“Cavendish equals Tour sprint greats with 12th win
By Justin Davis (AFP)
GUEUGNON, France — Mark Cavendish wrote a new page in British cycling history when he equalled the feats of three of the Tour de France’s top sprint greats with his 12th career victory on Friday.
Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland retained the race leader’s jersey after a long, 227.5km sixth stage from Montargis which, for the second day in a row, resulted in a bunch sprint after another futile breakaway.
For the second consecutive day Cavendish proved too fast for his rivals, the Isle of Man sprinter coming off the wheel of formidable lead-out man Mark Renshaw to finish the final 200 metres on his own.
American rival Tyler Farrar of Garmin-Transitions was second, with Italian Alessandro Petacchi of Lampre finishing third ahead of Australian Robbie McEwen and German Gerald Ciolek.
Cavendish’s 12th stage win in a mere three participations on the Tour de France means he matches the stage win record of Erik Zabel, Mario Cipollini and McEwen.
The 24-year-old was, however, quick to share out the glory to the HTC-Columbia team riders who battle hard to set up his sprint train.” Read more from AFP…
“Cavendish claims second successive win
(CNN) — Mark Cavendish claimed his second successive victory with another power-packed sprint at the end of the 227.5km sixth stage of the Tour de France from Montargis to Gueugnon.
The Briton dispelled doubts about his form by winning Thursday’s fifth stage — and he doubled up in impressive fashion, beating rivals Tyler Farrar and Alessandro Petacchi after again receiving a perfect lead-out from HTC-Columbia teammate Mark Renshaw.
There was no significant change in the overall classification with Fabian Cancellara retaining the race leader’s yellow jersey from Geraint Thomas.
However, Team Sky’s Thomas clawed back three seconds on the Swiss because of a slight split in the peloton and he now trails by just 20 seconds overall.” Read more from CNN…
