Cavendish survives the first Tour mountain stage with ease
Mark Cavendish (Columbia) finished safely in the main gruppetto on stage 10 and kept the green jersey for another day. He finished 137th at 28-29 behind Brice Feillu (Agritubel).
His main rival for the green jersey, Thor Hushovd (Cervelo), finished in the same time but at the back of the gruppetto, in 171st place. He still leads Hushovd by one point in the green jersey competition. Cavendish has 106 points, to Hushovd's 105.
Cavendish had to change his back wheel at the foot of the climb after a rider smashed into him but he quickly got back to the main bunch and rode to the finish with the likes of Stuart O'Grady (Saxo Bank), Tom Boonen (Quick Step) and team mate Mark Renshaw.
“I wasn't in the crash, it was on the right. I stopped for a few seconds but then a rider ploughed into my back wheel and ripped out the spokes. I'm lucky I don't have to buy my own wheels,” he said.
“It was a bit of nightmare and I had to wait but Bernie gave me his wheel and so I was able to chase and get back on. I would have preferred to take it easy in the gruppetto rather than rider hard to get there but its okay. I survived.”
Cavendish confirmed that he is climbing much better this year.
“I just try and ride through the climbs. I'm suffering but not more than anyone else. It's just a case of getting through it now, rather than struggling to get through it.” he said.
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TOUR DE FRANCE 2009 LINKS
Tour de France 2009 - the hub: Index to reports, photos, previews and more.
STAGE REPORTS
Stage seven: Feillu wins at Arcalis, Nocentini takes yellow, Contador leap-frogs Lance
Stage six: Millar's brave bid denied on Barcelona hill as Hushovd triumphs
Stage five: Voeckler survives chase to win his first Tour stage
Stage four: Astana on top but Armstrong misses yellow by hundredths of a second
Live Tour de France stage four TTT coverage
Stage three: Cavendish wins second stage as Armstrong distances Contador
Stage two: Cavendish takes first sprint
Stage one: Cancellara wins opening time trial
LATEST TOUR NEWS
Tour de France 2009 News Index>>
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Millar happy with Tour performance despite no stage win
Analysis: Fight for green jersey is between Cavendish and Hushovd
Wiggins looking ahead to Friday's mountain stage
Analysis: Why Contador's chances rose when Armstrong missed yellow
Delgado criticises Astana for Armstrong manoeuvre
Armstrong: Gaining time on Contador was not the objective
Stage three analysis: Why the bunch split and who gained the most
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David Zabriskie's time trial bike
Mark Cavendish on the Tour's team time trial
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TOUR DE FRANCE 2009 PHOTOS
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Stage one photo gallery by Graham Watson
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Team presentation by Graham Watson
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Tour de France 2009: Who's riding
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