His third victory at this year's Vuelta a Espana will be recorded as an individual sprint win, but once again Mark Cavendish got a lot of help.
HTC-Columbia teammate Matt Goss delivered Cavendish to within about 200 yards of the finish line on Thursday, allowing the “Manx Missile” a clear sprint to the finish line in Salamanca.
He finished one second ahead of second-place finisher J.J. Haedo (Saxo Bank), who was followed by a dozen other sprinters to close the flat 18th Stage of the Vuelta.
Overall leaders
The overall leaders finished virtually intact, with Italy's Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) remaining in the red jersey, 38 seconds ahead of Ezequiel Mosquera (Xacobeo Galicia).
The other podium contender, Peter Velits (HTC-Columbia) continued to hold third place, 1:59 behind Nibali and 1:44 ahead of 4th place cyclist Frank Schleck.
The Vuelta is winding down to the finale in Madrid on Sunday.
Upcoming battles
While Thursday's Stage 18 was dead flat, Stage 19 has a Category 2 climb early followed by some rolling hills that might allow the breakaway to survive.
The General Classification contenders are all looking to Saturday's Stage 20 as the make-or-break moment of the Vuelta. The 106-mile route sports one Category 3 and two Category 1 climbs before the final mountaintop finish at Bolla del Mundo.
For all the result and reports see CyclingNews.
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