Cycling: Four-some Cavendish

British speedster continues to impress as Evans remains in yellow

Last updated: 18th July 2008

Mark Cavendish Columbia stage 13

Cavendish: Another sprint finish, another stage victory

Mark Cavendish continued his wonderful Tour de France with a fourth stage victory on Friday, a 182km ride from Narbonne to Nimes.

The Isle of Man rider followed up his success on stage 12 the previous day with another dazzling display of his finishing speed in a sprint finish.

Robbie McEwan of the Silence-Lotto team was second with Agritubel's Roman Feillu in third. Oscar Freire finished fifth to extend his lead in the green jersey.

Cadel Evans again stays in yellow and his lead over Frank Schleck remains at a solitary second. Christian Vande Velde is still in third, a further 37 seconds adrift.

Breakaways

France's Florent Brard and Dutchman Niki Terpstra broke away in the first km and at one stage held an advantage of over 10 minutes to the peleton.

However, both men were eventually caught and although Frenchman Sylvain Chavanel jumped away eight km from the conclusion, the pack all came together in sight of the finishing line.

Cavendish was once again too good for the rest as he became the first man to win four stages on the same Tour since Italian spinter Alessandro Petacchi five years ago.

The Tour was sadly once again overshadowed by news away from the racing, with Saunier Duval announcing they have Riccardo Ricco following his positive test for EPO.

As well as Ricco, the Spanish team also fired another Italian rider, Leonardo Piepoli, who was the winner of stage 10 in the Pyrenees.

Stage result:
1. Mark Cavendish (Britain/Columbia ) 4h 25m 42s
2. Robbie McEwen (Australia/Silence - Lotto ) same time
3. Romain Feillu (France/Agritubel )
4. Heinrich Haussler (Germany/Gerolsteiner )
5. Oscar Freire (Spain/Rabobank )
6. Thor Hushovd (Norway/Credit Agricole )
7. Leonardo Duque (Colombia/Cofidis )
8. Erik Zabel (Germany / Milram )
9. Julian Dean (New Zealand / Garmin - Chipotle )
10. Sebastien Chavanel (France / Francaise des Jeux )

Overall standings:
1. Cadel Evans (Australia/Silence - Lotto ) 54h 48m 47s
2. Frank Schleck (Luxembourg/Team CSC ) +1s
3. Christian Vande Velde (US/Garmin - Chipotle ) +38"
4. Bernhard Kohl (Austria/Gerolsteiner ) +46"
5. Denis Menchov (Russia/Rabobank ) +57"
6. Carlos Sastre (Spain/Team CSC ) +1:28"
7. Kim Kirchen (Luxembourg/Columbia ) +1:56"
8. Vladimir Efimkin (Russia/AG2R ) +2:32"
9. Mikel Astarloza (Spain/Euskaltel ) +3:51"
10. Vincenzo Nibali (Italy/Liquigas ) +4:18"