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CHATEAUROUX, France: Britain’s Mark Cavendish labeled himself the
best sprinter in the world after claiming his first Tour de France
victory on the race’s fifth stage over 232 kilometers Wednesday.
Germany’s Stefan Schumacher of Gerolsteiner
finished with the bunch to retain the yellow jersey with a 12-second
lead on Luxembourg’s Kim Kirchen, with Britain’s David Millar in
third overall also at 12.
Cavendish, who won twice at last month’s Giro
d’Italia, finished off the hard work of his Columbia team after
they were forced to put numbers up at the front of the chasing
peloton to guarantee the race’s first bunch sprint finish.
German Gerald Ciolek then crucially led the
Manxman past Norwegian sprinter Thor Hushovd before Cavendish put in
a final burst to cross the line ahead of Spaniard Oscar Freire.
Germany’s Erik Zabel came third, with Hushovd—the
winner of the second stage—finishing fourth and taking the points
competition’s green jersey from Kirchen.
Schumacher, who won the fourth stage time trial
to take the yellow jersey on Tuesday, had to ask his team to work
throughout the day after a three-man break built an early lead
before being caught in the closing kilometers.
-- AFP
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