GUEUGNON // Mark Cavendish wrote a new page in British cycling history when he equalled the feats of three of the Tour de France's top sprint greats with his 12th career victory on Friday.
Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland retained the race leader's jersey after a long, 227.5km Stage 6 from Montargis which, for the second day, resulted in a bunch sprint after another futile breakaway.
"Tomorrow if I still have it I'll be even more proud," Cancellara said. "But I also know we'll be in the mountains, so we have to see how the race goes tactically."
For the second consecutive day, Cavendish proved too fast for his rivals, the Isle of Man sprinter coming off the wheel of the formidable lead-out man Mark Renshaw to finish the final 200m on his own.
The American Tyler Farrar of Garmin-Transitions was second, with Italian Alessandro Petacchi of Lampre finishing third ahead of Australian Robbie McEwen and German Gerald Ciolek.
Cavendish's 12th stage victory in a mere three participations on the Tour means he matches the stage-win record of Erik Zabel, Mario Cipollini and McEwen.
Cavendish, 24, was quick to share credit with the HTC-Columbia team riders who battled to set up his sprint train. "I cross the line with my hands in the air, but it doesn't make me necessarily the only guy who's done it," Cavendish said. "I've got guys riding for me on the front all day.
"It's incredible to do, especially with the Alps coming up where some of our guys will have their own ambitions."
A three-man breakaway formed early but, despite their lead reaching a significant eight minutes by the 60km mark, the collective strength of the peloton gradually prevailed.
With 73km to ride, the lead of the Spaniard Ruben Perez Moreno, the German Sebastian Lang and France's Mathieu Perget had been more than halved.
Cavendish's team were ever-present at the front of the chasing pack for most of the day. They were joined by the Saxo Bank team of Cancellara and some other sprinters' teams as they rolled through Burgundy.
Together, they helped slash the deficit to just 40 seconds with 25.4km and only one of the stage's small climbs remaining, making the prospect of a bunch sprint a mere formality.
Frenchman Dmitri Champion jumped out of the chasing peloton on the final climb with 23km to go, and soon closed the gap to the three leaders.
But despite the quartet battling together, they were reeled in with 10km to race.
With crosswinds threatening to split the pack, the teams of the yellow-jersey contenders, Astana, RadioShack and Saxo Bank, moved to the front to make sure their leaders were not caught behind.
Inside the final kilometre, Farrar's Garmin team pulled to the front, giving him the momentum for the final sprint where he could not match the power of Cavendish.
* AFP
1. M Cavendish HTC 5' 37' 42'
2. T Farrar Garmin same time
3. A Petacchi Lampre same time
4. R McEwen Katusha same time
5. G Ciolek Milram same time
6. S Turgot BB Tel same time
7. JJ Rojas Caisse same time
8. EH Boasson Sky same time
9. R Hunter Garmin same time
10. T Hushovd Cervelo same time
1. F Cancellara Saxo 28' 37' 30'
2. G Thomas Sky 20' behind
3. C Evans BMC 39'
4. R Hesjedel Garmin 46'
5. S Chavanel Quick Step 1' 01'
6. A Schleck Saxo 1' 09'
7. T Hushovd Cervelo 1' 16'
8. A Vinokourov Astana 1' 31'
9. A Contador Astana 1' 40'
10. J v d Broeck Omega 1' 42'
Yellow jersey: Fabian Cancellara
Green jersey: Thor Hushovd
Red dot jersey: Jerome Pineau
White jersey: Geraint Thomas
Team leaders: Team Saxo Bank (Denmark)
Tree of Hell
Starring: Raed Zeno, Hadi Awada, Dr Mohammad Abdalla
Director: Raed Zeno
Rating: 4/5
Thank You for Banking with Us
Director: Laila Abbas
Starring: Yasmine Al Massri, Clara Khoury, Kamel El Basha, Ashraf Barhoum
Rating: 4/5
The bio
Favourite book: Peter Rabbit. I used to read it to my three children and still read it myself. If I am feeling down it brings back good memories.
Best thing about your job: Getting to help people. My mum always told me never to pass up an opportunity to do a good deed.
Best part of life in the UAE: The weather. The constant sunshine is amazing and there is always something to do, you have so many options when it comes to how to spend your day.
Favourite holiday destination: Malaysia. I went there for my honeymoon and ended up volunteering to teach local children for a few hours each day. It is such a special place and I plan to retire there one day.
Elvis
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Fight card
Bantamweight
Siyovush Gulmamadov (TJK) v Rey Nacionales (PHI)
Lightweight
Alexandru Chitoran (ROM) v Hussein Fakhir Abed (SYR)
Catch 74kg
Tohir Zhuraev (TJK) v Omar Hussein (JOR)
Strawweight (Female)
Weronika Zygmunt (POL) v Seo Ye-dam (KOR)
Featherweight
Kaan Ofli (TUR) v Walid Laidi (ALG)
Lightweight
Leandro Martins (BRA) v Abdulla Al Bousheiri (KUW)
Welterweight
Ahmad Labban (LEB) v Sofiane Benchohra (ALG)
Bantamweight
Jaures Dea (CAM) v Nawras Abzakh (JOR)
Lightweight
Mohammed Yahya (UAE) v Glen Ranillo (PHI)
Lightweight
Alan Omer (GER) v Aidan Aguilera (AUS)
Welterweight
Mounir Lazzez (TUN) Sasha Palatnikov (HKG)
Featherweight title bout
Romando Dy (PHI) v Lee Do-gyeom (KOR)
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
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Essentials
The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Malaysia Airlines all fly direct from the UAE to Kuala Lumpur and on to Penang from about Dh2,300 return, including taxes.
Where to stay
In Kuala Lumpur, Element is a recently opened, futuristic hotel high up in a Norman Foster-designed skyscraper. Rooms cost from Dh400 per night, including taxes. Hotel Stripes, also in KL, is a great value design hotel, with an infinity rooftop pool. Rooms cost from Dh310, including taxes.
In Penang, Ren i Tang is a boutique b&b in what was once an ancient Chinese Medicine Hall in the centre of Little India. Rooms cost from Dh220, including taxes.
23 Love Lane in Penang is a luxury boutique heritage hotel in a converted mansion, with private tropical gardens. Rooms cost from Dh400, including taxes.
In Langkawi, Temple Tree is a unique architectural villa hotel consisting of antique houses from all across Malaysia. Rooms cost from Dh350, including taxes.
TOUR DE FRANCE INFO
Dates: July 1-23
Distance: 3,540km
Stages: 21
Number of teams: 22
Number of riders: 198
The specs
Engine: 5.0-litre V8
Power: 480hp at 7,250rpm
Torque: 566Nm at 4,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: L/100km
Price: Dh306,495
On sale: now