'Cav' does a double, Kirchen keeps yellow

Videos
Photos

(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-07-14 13:30

TOULOUSE, France: Britain's Mark Cavendish reinforced his claim to be the world's fastest man on two wheels by claiming his second stage win on the Tour de France on July 13, 2008.

A combo from Saturday shows (clockwise): The four leading racers (from left) Spaniard Egoi Martinez, Frenchman Laurent Lefevre, Frenchman Jerome Pineau and Frenchman Christophe Riblon riding in a breakaway; the pack riding; overall leader and Columbia's team leader Kim Kirchen celebrating on the podium wearing the yellow jersey; Britain's Mark Cavendish jubilating on the finish line as he wins during the 172.5km eighth stage of the 2008 Tour de France run between Figeac and Toulouse. [Agencies]

Luxembourg's Kim Kirchen, also of the Columbia team, retained the race leader's yellow jersey six seconds ahead of Australian Cadel Evans going into Sunday's first day in the high mountains.

After a rain-lashed day of racing out of the Massif Central towards the foot of the Pyrenees, Cavendish's team once again proved strongest in the final kilometres of the 172.5km eighth stage, which began in Figeac.

Setting up a "train" to help deliver Cavendish to the finish with as much punch in his legs as possible, the 23-year-old from the Isle of Man repaid its efforts with a victorious drive across the line.

In second place was Cavendish's lead-out man, former under-23 world champion Gerald Ciolek of Germany, while Frenchman Jimmy Casper took third place ahead of Spain's three-time world champion Oscar Freire.

Cavendish's maiden stage win on the Tour came in similar fashion on the fifth stage at Chateauroux, after which he claimed that with a team like his to help him, he couldn't help being the "best sprinter in the world".

Ahead of potentially race-changing stages in the Pyrenees, Columbia has become the dominant force on the Tour - a fact Cavendish was quick to confirm after its disciplined lead-out train worked again to perfection.

"It was brilliant. Once again you can see how well my team performed," Cavendish said.

"They nursed me back after I dropped off the back on the third-category climb, they controled the day, brought in the breakaway and then led me out excellently.

"The flat run in was ideally suited for us and you can see how well Gerald did to lead me out because he took second. To hold on to the yellow jersey and to get both first and second in the stage - it can't really get any better, can it?"

Ahead of two days of tough climbing in the Pyrenees, the yellow-jersey battle took a virtual back seat leading the peloton gradually toward the foot of the mountains.

Early attacks were kept on a tight leash, and it took the determination of Laurent Lefevre to finally break the peloton's resistance.

After being at the front over three small climbs he was joined by Euskaltel's Amets Txurruka, Bouygues Telecom teammate Jerome Pineau and Christophe Riblon finally joined him.

But their five-minute lead at the halfway stage was eventually slashed after the Credit Agricole team of sprinter Thor Hushovd and Freire's Rabobank team took over the chase.

Only Pineau and Txurruka remained in the final 3km, after which Columbia appeared at the front to help set up its train for Cavendish, with Kirchen not far behind as he aimed to keep hold of the yellow jersey.

A late attempt by the Quick Step team of Gert Steegmans, who has yet to win a stage on this year's race, pulled up the left-hand side in the final 600 m.

However, Columbia was not to be denied.

Cavendish stayed on the wheels that mattered and pulled out from behind Ciolek to seal the win.

In the melee Kirchen lost the points competition's green jersey to Freire, but for the moment the Luxemburger is enjoying his time in a more prestigious one.