Mark Cavendish (Team Columbia), the precocious sprinting talent from the Isle of Man has set himself up for a hat trick tomorrow after taking today’s 182km Stage 13 from Narbonne – Nîmes.
Many talk about the “old guard” of cycling in reference to those riders who were nurtured in a culture of doping, but in the manner that the 23-year old has been winning, the “old guard” might better refer to the generation of sprinters, like a Freire, a McEwen, or a Hushovd, whom Cavendish has left in his wake.
Manxman is clearly the dominant sprinter in the field.
He currently sits tied for second, 28 points back from Oscar Freire (Rabobank), in the maillot vert competition.
Results
1 Mark Cavendish (GBr) Team Columbia
2 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Silence - Lotto
3 Romain Feillu (Fra) Agritubel
Points Classification After Stage 13
1 Oscar Freire Gomez (Spa) Rabobank 184
2 Mark Cavendish (GBr) Team Columbia 156
3 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Crédit Agricole 156
General Classification After Stage 13
1 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence - Lotto
2 Frank Schleck (Lux) Team CSC - Saxo Bank 0.01
3 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30 0.38
4 Bernhard Kohl (Aut) Gerolsteiner 0.46
5 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 0.57
6 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Team CSC - Saxo Bank 1.28
7 Kim Kirchen (Lux) Team Columbia 1.56
8 Vladimir Efimkin (Rus) AG2R La Mondiale 2.32
9 Mikel Astarloza Chaurreau (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 3.51
10 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas 4.18
Butcher's Bill Reclassification
According to Cyclingnews, Leonardo Piepoli (Saunier Duval - Scott), the winner of Stage 10 from Pau to Hautacam, along with Riccardo Ricco, have been sacked by the team for "doping practices."
If that means that Piepoli has also returned a positive result, then the total for riders forcibly removed from the Tour increases 4.
When will the madness end?
SERENITY NOW!
Next: Stage 14 - Saturday, July 19: Nîmes - Digne les Bains (194.5km). With the Alps looming, this could be the final days for the sprinters until Paris. Can Manxman make it a hat trick and five stages overall?
More:
Cyclingnews - Cavendish winning streak continues, no change in overall
Melbourne Herald Sun - Mark Cavendish takes stage from Robbie McEwen
Times Online, UK – Mark Cavendish makes history with fourth stage win on Tour de France
Photo: Reuters
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