Britain's Mark Cavendish produced another stunning display of top end speed to win the final stage of the Tour de France on the Champs Elysees for the second consecutive year on Sunday.
After the traditional early stage celebrations the 102.5 km ride from Longjumeau to Paris took on a more serious tone shortly after the peloton arrived in the capital. A 12-man breakaway which included Lance Armstrong formed with 35 km remaining and they managed to collaborate well on the eight laps of the Champs Elysees to keep their lead at a steady 20secs.
But with the sprinters' teams relaying each other at the front of the chasing peloton in a bid to prepare a bunch finish, the frontrunners' hopes were soon to be dashed. With 12km to go the lead had dropped to 16sec.
A leading trio of Knees, Dutch veteran Karsten Kroon and Dane Nicki Sorensen began the last lap with a 14sec lead on the peloton and 7km to race.
However they were reeled in the closing kilometres, leaving a 20-strong bunch to take the final bend together. All the big sprint favourites were there, but Cavendish surprised them all with a powerful surge up the inside.
{{/usCountry}}However they were reeled in the closing kilometres, leaving a 20-strong bunch to take the final bend together. All the big sprint favourites were there, but Cavendish surprised them all with a powerful surge up the inside.
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