Cavendish sprints to stage 18 victory in the Tour de France
Wiggins retains yellow jersey
Mark Cavendish (Team Sky) stormed to his second stage win in this year's Tour de France with another superb sprint finish on stage 18. The world champion showed his tactical nous to reel in a late break and to beat Matt Goss (Orica-GreenEdge) and Peter Sagan (Liquigas-Cannondale) on the line.
Sky had led a relatively easy life on the undulating stage, posting Edvald Boasson Hagen in the early break, while Bradley Wiggins continued his march towards Paris. But in the closing stages, with a sprint chance for Cavendish in the cards, Sky called back its Norwegian star as Wiggins himself lead the pursuit of a last ditch six-man break.
Cavendish has certainly lacked his usual, supreme leadout in this year's Tour, but it has at least allowed him to demonstrate to the global audience just how exceptional his sprint is. With Nicholas Roche (AG2R La Mondiale) ahead, and a poised looking Luis Leon Sanchez (Rabobank) tucked behind the Irishman, Cavendish surged from the bunch in the final 200 meters, not just leaving the two leaders behind but distancing his main sprint rivals.
"I don't know how much I won by, but I had to go early. I haven't done anything this Tour because I saved so much energy. I knew I'd be able to go long. I knew I'd get it. I felt really good today," the Sky sprinter said on the line.
"I said earlier on in the Tour, we looked at the files and the reason I wasn't winning sprints was because I was training in the mountains. I wasn't able to show anything in this Tour because we had the yellow jersey. Today we spoke with the boss at the start, and I said please give me a chance, and the guys were like, 'Ok we're going to make a sprint today.' I'm so happy."
Sky's sprint chances looked out of the picture earlier in the stage. A large group containing Yaroslav Popovych (RadioShack-Nissan), Yukiya Arashiro (Europcar), Davis Millar (Garmin-Sharp), Julien Fouchard (Cofidis), Edvald Boasson Hagen (Sky), Adam Hansen (Lotto Belisol), Jelle Vanendert (Lotto Belisol), Kris Boeckmans (Vacansoliel-DCM), Luca Paolini (Katusha), Jeremy Roy (FDJ-Big Mat), Rui Costa (Movistar), Karsten Kroon (Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank, Nick Nuyens (Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank), Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana), Michael Albasini (Orica-GreenEdge) and Patrick Gretsch (Argos-Shimano) escaped on the first climb after 67 kilometres.
It was a collective bound by convenience and necessity. With just one open stage remaining and 13 teams yet to win a stage, the day's racing began with a flurry of attacks. Rider after rider, fuelled by a desire to rescue their Tour and that of their teams, jettisoned from the front. But it took almost an hour for the final selection to settle. The majority of teams was represented but with the demoralized Cofidis and AGR2 two of the notable exceptions.
With the stakes so high, the gap was never going to remain out of reach and despite relative organisation in the break the margin of acceptance never crept above four minutes.
With the gap at just over a minute, Millar was the first to attack, splitting the group inside the final 43 kilometers. The evergreen, ever-present Vinokourov was the first rider to match the Scot. Albasini and Boasson Hagen also reacted, but it was the Norwegian, with the bit between his teeth, who pressed on alone, unleashed from his burdening duties as Sky's all-round dogsbody. He was soon closed down but marshalled by Vinokourov, the gap increased to nearly 1:40.
The pace increased and the desperation was palpable; the next phase of the race became critical as the bunch strained to a breaking point in a bid to hold onto the break.
Second by second, the gap came down. 1:09 as Millar and company passed under the 30-kilometre-to-go banner.
The break needed another injection of pace. Too many riders were hanging on without taking a turn. It failed to materialise, and the peloton with the likes of ten Dam (Rabobank) won the tug of war.
Gretch, Vinokourov, Millar, Costa kept the fires burning but with 20 seconds shaved off, the possibility of the Sagan sprint show increased but with a fourth category climb inside the last 10 kilometres, all was still possible. Millar hadn't given up hope though, again accelerating in a bid to dislodge the dead wood and ad impetus to the break's chances.
Liquigas could smell blood massing near the front of the bunch. Millar's efforts had failed again but Hansen accelerated. Roy was attentive enough to follow, as Arashiro led a counter attack.
GreenEdge soon allied with the chasers, and Sky, with Wiggins leading Cavendish, also sensing a rare chance for the world champion in this year's Tour.
Roy and Hansen had 30 seconds, but were soon joined by Vinokourov, Nuyens and Paolini: the last stand from the early break. Vinokourov, in his last Tour led affairs berating his accomplices as they reached the foot of the last climb, still with 30 seconds.
Weening with Goss in mind set the pace for the bunch as Roy and Nuyens cracked to leave Vinokourov, Hansen and Paolini ahead. GreenEdge replaced Weening. The Australian team is looking for its first stage win.
Just 12 seconds ahead, Vinokourov, still leading the trio, accelerated again and with nine kilometres to go a win seemed possible. Kloden, Roche and Luis Leon Sanchez led a counter.
Paolini missed a turn, and Vinokourov flapped his arms as Hansen, the best sprinter kept his head down. The Sanchez group latched on with six men holding an eight-second lead with four kilometres to go. Roche, sensing the lack of collaboration, accelerated.
Behind, just by six seconds, Wiggins moved to the front, Boasson Hagen on his wheel, with the world champion in attendance. Roche led out, still in search of his maiden Grand Tour stage but as Wiggins and then Boasson Hagen faded, Cavendish's rainbow jersey burst through.
Full Results
# | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result |
---|---|---|
1 | Mark Cavendish (GBr) Sky Procycling | 4:54:12 |
2 | Matthew Harley Goss (Aus) Orica GreenEdge Cycling Team | Row 1 - Cell 2 |
3 | Peter Sagan (Svk) Liquigas-Cannondale | Row 2 - Cell 2 |
4 | Luis Leon Sanchez Gil (Spa) Rabobank Cycling Team | Row 3 - Cell 2 |
5 | Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La Mondiale | Row 4 - Cell 2 |
6 | Tyler Farrar (USA) Garmin - Sharp | Row 5 - Cell 2 |
7 | Borut Bozic (Slo) Astana Pro Team | Row 6 - Cell 2 |
8 | Sébastien Hinault (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale | Row 7 - Cell 2 |
9 | Daryl Impey (RSA) Orica GreenEdge Cycling Team | Row 8 - Cell 2 |
10 | Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne | Row 9 - Cell 2 |
11 | André Greipel (Ger) Lotto Belisol Team | Row 10 - Cell 2 |
12 | Juan José Haedo (Arg) Team Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank | Row 11 - Cell 2 |
13 | Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Sky Procycling | Row 12 - Cell 2 |
14 | Andreas Klöden (Ger) RadioShack-Nissan | Row 13 - Cell 2 |
15 | Koen De Kort (Ned) Argos-Shimano | 0:00:04 |
16 | Luca Paolini (Ita) Katusha Team | Row 15 - Cell 2 |
17 | Julien Simon (Fra) Saur - Sojasun | Row 16 - Cell 2 |
18 | Lars Ytting Bak (Den) Lotto Belisol Team | Row 17 - Cell 2 |
19 | Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Sky Procycling | Row 18 - Cell 2 |
20 | Marco Marcato (Ita) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | Row 19 - Cell 2 |
21 | Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team | Row 20 - Cell 2 |
22 | Christopher Froome (GBr) Sky Procycling | Row 21 - Cell 2 |
23 | Adam Hansen (Aus) Lotto Belisol Team | Row 22 - Cell 2 |
24 | Maxime Monfort (Bel) RadioShack-Nissan | Row 23 - Cell 2 |
25 | Ruben Perez Moreno (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi | Row 24 - Cell 2 |
26 | Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team | Row 25 - Cell 2 |
27 | Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale | Row 26 - Cell 2 |
28 | Alexandr Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana Pro Team | Row 27 - Cell 2 |
29 | Danilo Hondo (Ger) Lampre - ISD | Row 28 - Cell 2 |
30 | Christopher Horner (USA) RadioShack-Nissan | Row 29 - Cell 2 |
31 | Nicki Sörensen (Den) Team Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank | Row 30 - Cell 2 |
32 | Baden Cooke (Aus) Orica GreenEdge Cycling Team | Row 31 - Cell 2 |
33 | Haimar Zubeldia Agirre (Spa) RadioShack-Nissan | Row 32 - Cell 2 |
34 | Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Astana Pro Team | Row 33 - Cell 2 |
35 | Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team | Row 34 - Cell 2 |
36 | Eduard Vorganov (Rus) Katusha Team | Row 35 - Cell 2 |
37 | Michael Schär (Swi) BMC Racing Team | Row 36 - Cell 2 |
38 | Egoi Martinez De Esteban (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi | Row 37 - Cell 2 |
39 | Christian Vande Velde (USA) Garmin - Sharp | Row 38 - Cell 2 |
40 | Tejay Van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing Team | Row 39 - Cell 2 |
41 | Pierre Rolland (Fra) Team Europcar | Row 40 - Cell 2 |
42 | Dominik Nerz (Ger) Liquigas-Cannondale | Row 41 - Cell 2 |
43 | Thibaut Pinot (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat | Row 42 - Cell 2 |
44 | Marcel Sieberg (Ger) Lotto Belisol Team | Row 43 - Cell 2 |
45 | Rui Alberto Faria Da Costa (Por) Movistar Team | 0:00:12 |
46 | Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Movistar Team | Row 45 - Cell 2 |
47 | Cyril Gautier (Fra) Team Europcar | Row 46 - Cell 2 |
48 | Maxim Iglinskiy (Kaz) Astana Pro Team | Row 47 - Cell 2 |
49 | Johnny Hoogerland (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | 0:00:16 |
50 | George Hincapie (USA) BMC Racing Team | Row 49 - Cell 2 |
51 | Michele Scarponi (Ita) Lampre - ISD | Row 50 - Cell 2 |
52 | Juan Jose Cobo Acebo (Spa) Movistar Team | Row 51 - Cell 2 |
53 | Dries Devenyns (Bel) Omega Pharma-Quickstep | Row 52 - Cell 2 |
54 | Chris Anker Sörensen (Den) Team Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank | Row 53 - Cell 2 |
55 | Fredrik Kessiakoff (Swe) Astana Pro Team | Row 54 - Cell 2 |
56 | Denis Menchov (Rus) Katusha Team | Row 55 - Cell 2 |
57 | Dmitriy Fofonov (Kaz) Astana Pro Team | Row 56 - Cell 2 |
58 | Jean-Christophe Peraud (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale | Row 57 - Cell 2 |
59 | Sandy Casar (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat | Row 58 - Cell 2 |
60 | Andriy Grivko (Ukr) Astana Pro Team | Row 59 - Cell 2 |
61 | Daniel Martin (Irl) Garmin - Sharp | Row 60 - Cell 2 |
62 | Pierrick Fedrigo (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat | Row 61 - Cell 2 |
63 | Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Movistar Team | Row 62 - Cell 2 |
64 | Philippe Gilbert (Bel) BMC Racing Team | Row 63 - Cell 2 |
65 | Marcus Burghardt (Ger) BMC Racing Team | Row 64 - Cell 2 |
66 | Ruben Plaza Molina (Spa) Movistar Team | Row 65 - Cell 2 |
67 | Sébastien Minard (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale | Row 66 - Cell 2 |
68 | Sergio Miguel Moreira Paulinho (Por) Team Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank | Row 67 - Cell 2 |
69 | Yury Trofimov (Rus) Katusha Team | Row 68 - Cell 2 |
70 | Anders Lund (Den) Team Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank | Row 69 - Cell 2 |
71 | Romain Zingle (Bel) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne | Row 70 - Cell 2 |
72 | Jerome Coppel (Fra) Saur - Sojasun | Row 71 - Cell 2 |
73 | Giampaolo Caruso (Ita) Katusha Team | Row 72 - Cell 2 |
74 | Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team | Row 73 - Cell 2 |
75 | Guillaume Levarlet (Fra) Saur - Sojasun | Row 74 - Cell 2 |
76 | Matthieu Sprick (Fra) Argos-Shimano | 0:00:33 |
77 | Marco Marzano (Ita) Lampre - ISD | Row 76 - Cell 2 |
78 | Amaël Moinard (Fra) BMC Racing Team | Row 77 - Cell 2 |
79 | Michael Rogers (Aus) Sky Procycling | 0:00:41 |
80 | Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale | 0:00:04 |
81 | Maxime Bouet (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale | 0:00:43 |
82 | Cyril Lemoine (Fra) Saur - Sojasun | 0:00:47 |
83 | Jean Marc Marino (Fra) Saur - Sojasun | 0:01:04 |
84 | Davide Malacarne (Ita) Team Europcar | 0:01:11 |
85 | Simon Gerrans (Aus) Orica GreenEdge Cycling Team | 0:01:17 |
86 | Vasili Kiryienka (Blr) Movistar Team | 0:01:29 |
87 | Sylvester Szmyd (Pol) Liquigas-Cannondale | 0:01:31 |
88 | Daniel Oss (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale | 0:01:52 |
89 | Kristijan Koren (Slo) Liquigas-Cannondale | 0:01:54 |
90 | Rafael Valls Ferri (Spa) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | 0:02:07 |
91 | Nicolas Edet (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne | Row 90 - Cell 2 |
92 | Francis De Greef (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team | Row 91 - Cell 2 |
93 | Juan Horrach Rippoll (Spa) Katusha Team | Row 92 - Cell 2 |
94 | Aliaksandr Kuchynski (Blr) Katusha Team | Row 93 - Cell 2 |
95 | David Zabriskie (USA) Garmin - Sharp | Row 94 - Cell 2 |
96 | Mikael Cherel (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale | Row 95 - Cell 2 |
97 | Matthieu Ladagnous (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat | Row 96 - Cell 2 |
98 | Jorge Azanza Soto (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi | Row 97 - Cell 2 |
99 | Pieter Weening (Ned) Orica GreenEdge Cycling Team | Row 98 - Cell 2 |
100 | Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Team Europcar | 0:02:11 |
101 | Jérémy Roy (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat | 0:02:25 |
102 | Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Orica GreenEdge Cycling Team | Row 101 - Cell 2 |
103 | Johan Vansummeren (Bel) Garmin - Sharp | 0:03:05 |
104 | Luis Angel Mate Mardones (Spa) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne | Row 103 - Cell 2 |
105 | Greg Henderson (NZl) Lotto Belisol Team | Row 104 - Cell 2 |
106 | Jan Ghyselinck (Bel) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne | Row 105 - Cell 2 |
107 | Nick Nuyens (Bel) Team Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank | 0:03:57 |
108 | Jonathan Cantwell (Aus) Team Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank | Row 107 - Cell 2 |
109 | Rein Taaramae (Est) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne | Row 108 - Cell 2 |
110 | Fabrice Jeandesboz (Fra) Saur - Sojasun | 0:04:10 |
111 | Martin Velits (Svk) Omega Pharma-Quickstep | 0:04:42 |
112 | Peter Velits (Svk) Omega Pharma-Quickstep | Row 111 - Cell 2 |
113 | Jens Voigt (Ger) RadioShack-Nissan | Row 112 - Cell 2 |
114 | Roy Curvers (Ned) Argos-Shimano | Row 113 - Cell 2 |
115 | Yukiya Arashiro (Jpn) Team Europcar | Row 114 - Cell 2 |
116 | Yohann Gene (Fra) Team Europcar | Row 115 - Cell 2 |
117 | Patrick Gretsch (Ger) Argos-Shimano | Row 116 - Cell 2 |
118 | Simone Stortoni (Ita) Lampre - ISD | Row 117 - Cell 2 |
119 | Manuel Quinziato (Ita) BMC Racing Team | Row 118 - Cell 2 |
120 | Cédric Pineau (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat | Row 119 - Cell 2 |
121 | Yann Huguet (Fra) Argos-Shimano | Row 120 - Cell 2 |
122 | Laurens Ten Dam (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team | Row 121 - Cell 2 |
123 | Kris Boeckmans (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | Row 122 - Cell 2 |
124 | Albert Timmer (Ned) Argos-Shimano | Row 123 - Cell 2 |
125 | Karsten Kroon (Ned) Team Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank | Row 124 - Cell 2 |
126 | Christophe Riblon (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale | Row 125 - Cell 2 |
127 | Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) RadioShack-Nissan | 0:05:00 |
128 | Christian Knees (Ger) Sky Procycling | 0:05:55 |
129 | Kevin De Weert (Bel) Omega Pharma-Quickstep | 0:07:50 |
130 | Levi Leipheimer (USA) Omega Pharma-Quickstep | Row 129 - Cell 2 |
131 | Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Omega Pharma-Quickstep | Row 130 - Cell 2 |
132 | Jelle Vanendert (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team | Row 131 - Cell 2 |
133 | Julien Fouchard (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne | Row 132 - Cell 2 |
134 | Michael Albasini (Swi) Orica GreenEdge Cycling Team | Row 133 - Cell 2 |
135 | Richie Porte (Aus) Sky Procycling | Row 134 - Cell 2 |
136 | Federico Canuti (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale | Row 135 - Cell 2 |
137 | Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz) Astana Pro Team | Row 136 - Cell 2 |
138 | Bert Grabsch (Ger) Omega Pharma-Quickstep | Row 137 - Cell 2 |
139 | Bram Tankink (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team | Row 138 - Cell 2 |
140 | Stephen Cummings (GBr) BMC Racing Team | Row 139 - Cell 2 |
141 | Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Sky Procycling | 0:08:54 |
142 | David Millar (GBr) Garmin - Sharp | Row 141 - Cell 2 |
143 | Blel Kadri (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale | Row 142 - Cell 2 |
144 | Alessandro Vanotti (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale | Row 143 - Cell 2 |
145 | Jimmy Engoulvent (Fra) Saur - Sojasun | Row 144 - Cell 2 |
146 | Arthur Vichot (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat | Row 145 - Cell 2 |
147 | Anthony Roux (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat | Row 146 - Cell 2 |
148 | Brice Feillu (Fra) Saur - Sojasun | Row 147 - Cell 2 |
149 | Michael Morkov (Den) Team Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank | Row 148 - Cell 2 |
150 | Pablo Urtasun Perez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi | Row 149 - Cell 2 |
151 | Gorka Izaguirre Insausti (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi | 0:11:55 |
152 | Christophe Kern (Fra) Team Europcar | Row 151 - Cell 2 |
153 | Sebastian Langeveld (Ned) Orica GreenEdge Cycling Team | 0:12:32 |
# | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result | Header Cell - Column 3 |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Kris Boeckmans (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | 20 | pts |
2 | Jérémy Roy (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat | 17 | Row 1 - Cell 3 |
3 | Patrick Gretsch (Ger) Argos-Shimano | 15 | Row 2 - Cell 3 |
4 | Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Sky Procycling | 13 | Row 3 - Cell 3 |
5 | Alexandr Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana Pro Team | 11 | Row 4 - Cell 3 |
6 | Luca Paolini (Ita) Katusha Team | 10 | Row 5 - Cell 3 |
7 | Michael Albasini (Swi) Orica GreenEdge Cycling Team | 9 | Row 6 - Cell 3 |
8 | Karsten Kroon (Ned) Team Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank | 8 | Row 7 - Cell 3 |
9 | David Millar (GBr) Garmin - Sharp | 7 | Row 8 - Cell 3 |
10 | Adam Hansen (Aus) Lotto Belisol Team | 6 | Row 9 - Cell 3 |
11 | Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) RadioShack-Nissan | 5 | Row 10 - Cell 3 |
12 | Yukiya Arashiro (Jpn) Team Europcar | 4 | Row 11 - Cell 3 |
13 | Nick Nuyens (Bel) Team Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank | 3 | Row 12 - Cell 3 |
14 | Rui Alberto Faria Da Costa (Por) Movistar Team | 2 | Row 13 - Cell 3 |
15 | Jelle Vanendert (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team | 1 | Row 14 - Cell 3 |
# | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result | Header Cell - Column 3 |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Mark Cavendish (GBr) Sky Procycling | 45 | pts |
2 | Matthew Harley Goss (Aus) Orica GreenEdge Cycling Team | 35 | Row 1 - Cell 3 |
3 | Peter Sagan (Svk) Liquigas-Cannondale | 30 | Row 2 - Cell 3 |
4 | Luis Leon Sanchez Gil (Spa) Rabobank Cycling Team | 26 | Row 3 - Cell 3 |
5 | Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La Mondiale | 22 | Row 4 - Cell 3 |
6 | Tyler Farrar (USA) Garmin - Sharp | 20 | Row 5 - Cell 3 |
7 | Borut Bozic (Slo) Astana Pro Team | 18 | Row 6 - Cell 3 |
8 | Sébastien Hinault (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale | 16 | Row 7 - Cell 3 |
9 | Daryl Impey (RSA) Orica GreenEdge Cycling Team | 14 | Row 8 - Cell 3 |
10 | Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne | 12 | Row 9 - Cell 3 |
11 | André Greipel (Ger) Lotto Belisol Team | 10 | Row 10 - Cell 3 |
12 | Juan José Haedo (Arg) Team Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank | 8 | Row 11 - Cell 3 |
13 | Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Sky Procycling | 6 | Row 12 - Cell 3 |
14 | Andreas Klöden (Ger) RadioShack-Nissan | 4 | Row 13 - Cell 3 |
15 | Koen De Kort (Ned) Argos-Shimano | 2 | Row 14 - Cell 3 |
# | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result | Header Cell - Column 3 |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Nick Nuyens (Bel) Team Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank | 2 | pts |
2 | Yukiya Arashiro (Jpn) Team Europcar | 1 | Row 1 - Cell 3 |
# | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result |
---|---|---|