Mark Cavendish wins Tour de France 2010, stage 6

Tour de France 2010, stage six photo gallery by Graham Watson>>

Mark Cavendish made it two wins in two days with a dominant sprint in Guegnon today. When he started his sprint he was instantly a bike length clear of American Tyler Farrar (Garmin), and neither he nor Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre) were able to make any inroads in to his lead.

It was a clear indication that Cavendish (HTC-Columbia) is getting better and better as the race goes on, and the win sees him make up ground in the green jersey competition. He is now up to fifth, just 33 points behind leader Thor Hushovd (Cervelo) who could only manage tenth today.

But as good as Cavendish was a the end of today's long hot stage, he owes the win to his lead out man Mark Renshaw. The Aussie was brilliant through the tight turns in the last kilometre and didn't panic when the three-man Garmin train got a small gap in the last 500 metres.

Then in the final straight the Lampre rider in front of Renshaw sat up unexpectedly, but quick as a flash he was past him and on the wheel in front.

Without hesitation he then started his sprint before Cavendish jumped round him in the dash for the line. The overhead camera showed how far clear Cavendish was within just a couple of pedal revolutions and put to bed any fears that he, his team or anyone else may have had over his ability.

He may not be in the form he had last year when he won six stages, but he still has the best turn of speed in the peloton.

Hotting up

The temperature soared in to the mid thirties today as the race made its way south in to the middle of France as the peloton had to endure it's longest day in the saddle. 227.5km took them over four category four climbs and countless bumps in between.

The daily three man break - that today was made up of Sebastian Lang (Omega Pharma Lotto), Mathieu Perget (Caisse d'Epargne) and Ruben Perez Moreno (Euskaltel Euskadi) - enjoyed the limelight today, but even getting reinforcements from Dimitri Champion (Ag2r La Mondiale) and Anthony Charteau (Bbox Bouygues Telecom) over the top of the final climb couldn't save them from their fate.

Although HTC-Columbia had to once again do the lions share of the work, they were helped in the last ten kilometres by a stiff crosswind. With memories of last year's stage to La Grande Motte still fresh in rider's minds, all the favourites were suddenly at the front of the bunch.

First Cadel Evans (BMC), then Lance Armstrong (RadioShack) were seen in the front line of riders. At one point Alberto Contador was second wheel as Astana stretched the bunch.

With the contenders teams constantly moving to the front there was no need for HTC to set the pace. They came back to the front within the last kilometres but were soon overwhelmed by Lampre and Garmin. The American team seemed to have the initiative when three of them lead through the right and left hand bends just inside the last kilometre.

It looked like a perfect lead out for Tyler Farrar, but they hadn't banked on Mark Renshaw.

Mountains looming

Tomorrow the race hits the mountains as the race route heads east to Station des Rousses in the Jura mountain range near the Swiss border.

The profile has a category four climb, two category three climbs and three category two climbs, with the finish at the top of the third. Both race leader Fabian Cancellara and Brit Geraint Thomas (Team Sky) will be expected to fall down the general classification.

Thomas gained three seconds on Cancellara today as a small split opened up behind the sprinters. 

RESULTS

Tour de France 2010, stage five: Montargis - Guegnon, 227.5km

1. Mark Cavendish (GBr) HTC-Columbia
5-37:42hrs

2. Tyler Farrar (USA) Garmin Transitions

3. Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Lampre Farnese

4. Robbie McEwen (Aus) Katusha

5. Gerald Ciolek (Ger) Milram

6. Sébastien Turgot (Fra) BBox Bouygues Telecom

7. Jose Joaquin Rojas (Esp) Caisse d'Epargne

8. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Team Sky

9. Robert Hunter (RSA) Garmin Transitions

10. Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo Test Team

British

11. Geraint Thomas (GBr) Team Sky

32. Jeremy Hunt (GBr) Cervelo Test Team at 3 seconds

40. Daniel Lloyd (GBr) Cervelo Test Team

131. Stephen Cummings (GBr) Team Sky

135. Charly Wegelius (GBr) Omega Pharma Lotto

157. David Millar (GBr) Garmin Transitions all at same time

General classification

1. Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Saxo Bank 28-37-30hrs

2. Geraint Thomas (GBr) Team Sky at 20 secs

3. Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC at 39 secs

4. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin Transitions at 46 secs

5. Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Quick Step at 1-01 mins

6. Andy Schleck (Lux) Saxo Bank at 1-09 mins

7. Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo Test Team at 1-16 mins

8. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana at 1-31 mins

9. Alberto Contador (Esp) Astana at 1-40 mins

10. Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Omega Pharma Lotto at 1-42 mins

British

14. Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Team Sky at 1-49 mins

15. David Millar (GBr) Garmin Transitions at 2-06 mins

66. Stephen Cummings (GBr) Team Sky at 3-44 mins

107. Mark Cavendish (GBr) HTC Columbia at 9-08 mins

146. Daniel Lloyd (GBr) Cervelo Test Team at 19-23 mins

171. Charly Wegelius (GBr) Omega Pharma Lotto at 27-15 mins

Points: Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo

Mountains: Jerome Pineau (Fra) Quick Step

Young rider: Geraint Thomas (GB) Team Sky

Sebastian Lang, Tour de France 2010, stage 6

Sebastian Lang heads the escape trio

Daniel Lloyd, Tour de France 2010, stage 6

Daniel Lloyd

Sunflowers, Tour de France 2010, stage 6

Sunflowers: Every Tour photographer's dream

HTC-Columbia chase, Tour de France 2010, stage 6

HTC-Columbia and Saxo Bank work at the front of the bunch

Mark Cavendish wins Tour de France 2010, stage 6

Mark Cavendish makes it two in a row

Fabian Cancellara on podium, Tour de France 2010, stage 6

Fabian Cancellara maintains the race lead

Tour de France 2010: Latest news

Cavendish strikes back in Tour de France

Thomas happy with Tour's white jersey; but says 'All for Brad'

Wiggins crashes on Tour stage start

Cavendish and Farrar return to top

Cavendish keeps up fight for first Tour win

Sky delivers Boasson Hagen to third without pressure

Thomas in tour's white jersey; Wiggins gains time

Evans and Schleck gain in Tour's hell of the north

The Feed Zone: Tour news and views (July 6)

Vande Velde abandons Tour following crash

Andy Schleck has a laugh after stage two crash

The Feed Zone: News and views (July 5)

Sky banks on Thomas ahead of cobbled stage

Cavendish's sprint train weakened with Hansen out

Armstrong under fire as Landis allegations reach mainstream

Team Sky's decision to put Wiggins off early back fires

Tour de France 2010: Stage reports

Stage six: Cavendish makes it two as Tour hots up

Stage five: Cavendish wins his first stage of Tour

Stage four: Petacchi wins into Reims

Stage three: Hushovd takes dramatic win; Thomas second on stage and GC

Stage three live coverage: As it happened

Stage two: Comeback man Chavanel takes victory in Spa

Stage one: Petacchi wins in Brussels as bunch left in tatters

Prologue: Cancellara pips Martin to win

Tour de France 2010: Photos

Stage six photo gallery

Stage five photo gallery

Stage four photo gallery

Stage three photo gallery

Stage two photo gallery

Stage one gallery

Prologue photo gallery

Tour de France 2010: Videos

Stage five video highlights

Stage four video highlights

Stage three video highlights

Stage two video highlights

Stage one video highlights

Prologue video highlights

Tour de France 2010: Race guide

Tour de France 2010: Cycling Weekly's coverage index

Official start list, with race numbers

Brits at the Tour 2010

Tout team guide

Tour jerseys: What they are and what they mean

Brits in the Tours: From Robinson to Wiggins

Tour de France 2010: Pictures

Tour team presentation, Rotterdam

Tour teams take to the cobbles: Photo special

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