Mark Cavendish wins sixth stage and Thor Hushovd extends his overall lead in 2011 Tour De France
HTC-Highroad team’s Mark Cavendish won the fifth stage of 2011 Tour de France on Wednesday, July 6. Thor Hushovd from Norway kept his overall leader’s yellow jersey.
The race started in Carhaix and ended in Cap Frehel. The 26-year-old World Champion, Mark, took a total of 3 hours, 38 minutes and 32 seconds to cover the distance of 158 kilometres.
After winning the fifth stage, Mark said, “The organisers made it hard for us to have a bunch sprint in the first week of the Tour this year – that's because we dominated last year and they tried to make a handicap for us so we started on the back foot this
year."
Saxo Bank Sungard's rider, Alberto Contador, fell during a crash and Janez Brajkovic had to quit the stage because his collar-bone broke during an accident.
Philippe Gilbert of Omega Pharma-Lotto was in the second spot. Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil of Movistar was in good form, but was unable to take the lead and grabbed the third place ahead of Tony Gallopin.
A group of four riders made their first breakaway including, Tristan Valentin (Cofidis), Sébastien Turgot (Europcar), José Ivan Gutierrez (Movistar) and Anthony Delaplace (Saur-Sojasun).
All of them gained a lead of five minutes over the peloton. With 45 kilometres remaining, the two riders, Thomas Voeckler and Jeremy Roy, decided to attack and reduce the gap of breakaway riders.
The three teams BMC racing, Leopard Trek and Liquigas-Cannondale worked together in the front of the peloton, while Roy tried his best to take a lead, but in the final few kilometres, Cavendish paced up and crossed the finish line to take his 16th stage
win.
Mark further added, "I am really happy. It was a difficult finish, I put everything into it ... If we win, it's not because we're lucky, it's because we're good."
Recently, Mark took the first place in the final stage of Tour of Omanan and was the runner-up in the second stage of Giro d’ltalia.
Thor Hushovd retained his overall standing with a timing of 17 hours, 36 minutes and 57 seconds. Cadel Evans of BMC racing was the runner-up with 1 minute behind Thor.
Leopard Trek rider Frank Schleck finished third with a difference of 4 seconds, while the stage winner, Cavendish, was in 81th place with a difference of 4 minutes and 22 seconds.
The next stage will start in Dinan and end in Lisieux. All the riders will cover the distance of 226 kilometres.
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