E-Paper
Cavendish wins stage, Wiggins closes in on glory
Frustrated since his victory in the second stage more than two weeks ago, Mark Cavendish sprinted masterfully in the last stretch to win the 18th stage of the Tour de France on Friday.
Frustrated since his victory in the second stage more than two weeks ago, Mark Cavendish sprinted masterfully in the last stretch to win the 18th stage of the Tour de France on Friday.
The world champion, led out in the finale by his Team Sky leader and yellow jersey holder Bradley Wiggins, surged to the front as the peloton caught two escapees.
Australia's Matt Goss was second and Slovak Peter Sagan, the green jersey holder, was third.
Wiggins retained his two minutes five seconds overall lead on team mate Chris Froome while Italy's Vincenzo Nibali is third, 2:41 adrift.
It was Cavendish's 22nd stage win on the Tour de France, putting him level with seven-times Tour champion Lance Armstrong and famous French sprinter Andre Darrigade.
The stage was marred by a crash caused by a dog rushing on the road, which sent Belgium's Philippe Gilbert, Russia's Denis Menchov and France's Arthur Vichot to the tarmac. No one was seriously hurt.
French president Francois Hollande paid a visit to the Tour on the roads of his home region of Correze.
Saturday's 19th and penultimate stage is a 53.5-kms individual time trial which is on paper ideally suited for Wiggins.
