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United States | Midwest | Ohio >> Mark Cavendish sprints to Tour de France stage 3 victory

Mark Cavendish sprints to Tour de France stage 3 victory

His 28th Tour stage win, Mark Cavendish has tied with Bernard Hinault for second in all-time TDF stage wins. 

Mark Cavendish edged out Andre Greipel to secure his 28th stage win at the Tour de France and moves alongside Bernard Hinault in the record books, with only Merckx first with 34 stage wins. Peter Sagan retains the yellow jersey with Cavendish in Green. 

Despite Etixx’s hard work, Kittel was nowhere to be seen after the final 90-degree corner, leaving it down to Cavendish and Greipel to battle it out.

Both riders celebrated the victory, but Cavendish was awarded the win after the photo finish was examined – his track lunge was enough to seal victory as he gained ground on Greipel in the final metres.

Having won Saturday opening stage with a superb sprint into Utah Beach in northern France, the Manx Missile stunned rival Andre Greipel by winning Monday’s third stage by the narrowest of margins.

At the end of a 223-kilometre stage from Granville to Angers, it looked like the Manxman was somewhat boxed-in during the final few hundred metres as a chaotic bunch sprint unfolded.

However, the Team Dimension Data rider jumped from the wheel of his leadout man Mark Renshaw into the slipstream of Greipel and went toe-to-toe with the German in their burst for the line.

Greipel appeared to have the stage win in the bag at one point but Cav rolled back the years to deliver a scintillating burst of speed before a late lunge to the line.

Greipel celebrated initially but confusion soon reigned as neither rider was aware who had won.

Eventually news filtered through that Cav had edged it by a mere tyre width to match the legendary Hinault’s tally of 28 wins.

Tour de France 2016, stage three: Granville to Angers, 223.5km

1. Mark Cavendish (GBr) Dimension Data in 5-59.54
2. André Greipel (Ger) Lotto-Soudal
3. Bryan Coquard (Fra) Direct Energie
4. Peter Sagan (Svk) Tinkoff
5. Edward Theuns (Bel) Trek-Segafredo
6. Sondre Holst Enger (Nor) IAM Cycling
7. Marcel Kittel (Ger) Etixx-QuickStep
8. Christophe Laporte (Fra) Cofidis
9. Daniel McLay (GBr) Fortuneo-Vital Concept
10. Dylan Groenewegen (Ned) LottoNL-Jumbo all same time

General classification after stage three

1. Peter Sagan (Svk) Tinkoff in 14-34-36
2. Julian Alaphilippe (Fra) Etixx-QuickStep at 8 secs
3. Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar at 10 secs
4. Chris Froome (GBr) Team Sky at 14 secs
5. Warren Barguil (Fra) Giant-Alpecin at 14 secs
6. Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar at 14 secs
7. Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Tinkoff at 14 secs
8. Tony Gallopin (Fra) Lotto-Soudal at 14 secs
9. Fabio Aru (Ita) Astana at 14 secs
10. Daniel Martin (Irl) Etixx-QuickStep at 14 secs

 

 

Mark Cavendish sprints to Tour de France stage 3 victory