Twenty-three-year-old Mark Cavendish is such a talented sprinter that many bike race commentators haven't asked “if” the Team Columbia cyclist would win a Tour de France stage, but “when.”
When came Wednesday at the end of the 144-mile Stage 5 of the Tour from Cholet to Châteauroux.
US-based Team Columbia, led on the road by George Hincapie, controlled the peloton on the final miles into Châteauroux and charged hard over the last few kilometers to reel in the three-man breakaway. A member of that group, Nicolas Vogondy of Agritubel, attacked his comrades with about a mile left to race.
When Thor Hushovd entered the fray with this Credit Agricole team, Cavendish saw it was time to make his move and sprinted past them all for the win. Following Cavendish across the finish line were notable sprinters Oscar Freire (Rabobank), Erik Zabel (Milram), Hushovd, and Baden Cooke (Barloworld).
Remarkably, it was the first Tour de France stage win by a Brit since David Millar in 2002. Cavendish is quoted at BBC Sports:
“It's the biggest thing to have happened to me and to do it so young, it's a massive thing. … I came here with the intention of winning one (stage), I would have gone home disappointed if I hadn't.”
Before today, Cavendish had seven wins this season, included two at the Giro d'Italia.
Team Columbia, previously called Team High Road prior to the Tour, has been on a tear this year as one of bike racing's strongest teams. Team member Kim Kirchen, a long-list Tour favorite, already has two second-place finishes.
Gerolsteiner's Stefan Schumacher finished high enough to defend his yellow jersey.
On a sad note, Mauricio Soler dropped out of the race on Wednesday. The Barloworld cyclist had been named among the top contenders, but he fell during Stage 1 and broke his wrist. He fell again as the race got underway Wednesday.
Also taking a spill on Wednesday was another top favorite, Alejandro Valverde, who continued in the race.
The overall standings remained virtually unchanged on Wednesday.
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