Deja Dominant, Cavendish Takes Fourth - 96th Tour de France Stage 11

With an uphill finish on today's 192km Stage 11 from Vatan to Saint Fargeau, Mark Cavendish (Team Columbia - HTC) was not a popular pick to take the victory.

Thor Hushovd (Cervelo Test Team) and Oscar Freire (Rabobank) seemed more physically suited for this type of finishing straight and had proven so during the Stage 6 run in into Barcleona. Even Classics' hardmen like Pippo Pozzato (Liquigas) and Alessandro Ballan (Lampre) were deemed better fits to take the win in Saint Fargeau.

Oh, how soon we forget.

These were the same criticisms that pundits, and riders alike, had previously leveled against the the Isle of Man sprinter, that is until this year's la classica di Primavera, Milano-San Remo.

On that day, Cavendish would tame the vaunted climbs up the Cipressa and Poggia for his first major victory.

It came as a bit of a surprise then that Cavendish's chances to win today's uphill sprint amounted to a little more than background noise for some commentators. The win gave Cavendish four in this year's race, while tying him with Barry Hoban for most Tour victories, eight, by a British rider.

For those who believe Mark Cavendish to be the "fastest man on two wheels," you can now attach the qualifier, on any parcour.

A more than game Tyler Farrar (Garmin - Slipstream) finished second, and Alessandro Ballan (Lampre) rounded out the podium.

Stage 11 Results
1. Mark Cavendish (Team Columbia - HTC)
2. Tyler Farrar (Garmin - Slipstream)
3. Alessandro Ballan (Lampre)

General Classification After Stage 11
1. Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale
2. Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana
3. Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana
4. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana
5. Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Garmin - Slipstream
6. Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana
7. Tony Martin (Ger) Team Columbia - HTC
8. Christian Vande Velde (USA) Garmin - Slipstream
9. Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank
10. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas

As a result of his stage win, Cavendish reclaimed the maillot vert from Hushovd who faded in today's finale.

Jersey Leader's After Stage 11
Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale


Mark Cavendish (GBr) Team Columbia - HTC


Egoi Martinez (Spa) Euskatel-Euskadi


Tony Martin (Ger) Team Columbia - HTC



Next: Stage 12 - Tonnerre to Vittel (211.5 km)
Can the Columbia - HTC train deliver Manxman for a third day in a row? Right now, the only train that might be able to keep up with the boys from SLO is the TGV. Follow our commentary on the daily live blogging feed on LIVESTRONG.com