Mark Cavendish Wins Another Stage at Tour de France
Stage 11 of the Tour de France was won by Britain Mark Cavendish on Thursday after a dramatic sprint in the last kilometer of the trek. This put Alessandro Petacchi and Tyler Farrar in second and third respectively for the stage.
This is the third stage that Cavendish has won for this Tour. He said that it’s nice to keep winning. His team is dedicated and thanks them all, he continued, noting that he’s really happy. It’s all about winning stages now, he added.
However, this is a bitter-sweet victory, as Cavendish’s teammate Mark Renshaw has been thrown from the Tour. Just before the sprint, Renshaw leaned over and headbutted Julian Dean. Jean-Francois Pescheux, the Tour’s technical director, says that Renshaw is out. They watched him blatantly headbutt Dean on film like in a keirin race, he continued. This is cycling, he adding, noting that everyone could have ended on their backs.
While still enjoying the excitement of winning the stage, Cavendish seemed to believe that they would be able to get the UCI to change their mind. He said that they made the decision against what the team believes happened. Dean had hooked his right elbow over Renshaw’s right, he continued, so Renshaw used his head to get away. They will see what develops and if they can rectify it, he added.
Despite this win, the top 10 in the overall standings has changed. Andy Schleck is still in possession of the yellow jersey, and Alberto Contador is close behind. Here is a closer look:
- Andy Schleck 53h43′25”
- Alberto Contador +41”
- Samuel Sanchez +2′45”
- Denis Menchov +2′58”
- Jurgen Van Den Broeck +3′31”
- Levi Leipheimer +3′59”
- Robert Gesink +4′22”
- Luis-Leon Sanchez +4′41”
- Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver +5′08”
- Ivan Basso +5′09”