Sports

Tour de France Stage 11 Mark Cavendish Finishes First

by Barbara McPherson | July 15, 2009 at 07:45 am

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Today's Tour de France stage 11 saw Mark Cavendish finish first to regain the green jersey. He now ties his countryman for most stage wins in the Tour. This is Mark Cavendish's third Tour. Last year he broke off early to attend the Beijing Olympics.

Stage 11 of the Tour followed a route of 192 km from the town of Vatan to Saint-Fargeau in an easterly direction.

Race leaders remain the same:

1. Rinaldo Nocentini for AG2R

2. Alberto Contador for Astana

3. Lance Armstrong for Astana

4. Levi Leipheimer for Astana

The time difference between first and third place remains at only 8 seconds.

There was an early breakaway which remained out in front for 150 km only to be reeled back into the peloton at the 5 km mark.

Crashes early in the stage had the director of competition calling for a 'neutralization of competition'. It turned out that some debris on the road caused trouble for the riders. Christian Vande Velde for Garmin fell but finished the stage. Also involved in that incident was Vladimir Efimkin, AG2R. Later the Canadian rider for Garmin, Ryder Hesjedal fell hard only 45 km out.

170 riders started the stage today. Ten competitors have been forced to retire from the Tour. The latest casualty was Kurt-Asle Arvensen for Saxo-Bank with a broken collarbone.

Tomorrow Stage 12 of the Tour is a 211.5 km stretch from Tonnerre to Vittel.