Cavendish sprints to stage win

Another sensational sprint victory saw Mark Cavendish win stage 18 of the Tour de France in Bordeaux.

The win on the 198-kilometre stage from Salies-de-Bearn was the 25-year-old Briton's fourth in the 2010 Tour and his 14th in three seasons.

Cavendish (HTC-Columbia) finished ahead of Julian Dean (Team Garmin-Transitions) and Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre-Farnese) by a margin which was so comfortable he was even able to look around before crossing the line with his arms aloft in a victory salute.

Thor Hushovd (Cervelo Test Team) finished 14th to concede the points classification leader's green jersey he held at the start of the day to Petacchi.

Italian Petacchi now has 213 points, Hushovd 203 and Cavendish 197 after his 35-point haul, but the Isle of Man sprinter must rely on his rivals slipping up if he is to claim the maillot vert he covets.

Sunday's 20th stage from Longjumeau to the Champs Elysees is usually a procession for the overall contenders.

After 10 laps of the famous Paris boulevard the Tour's finale almost always ends in a sprint finish and it is now set to determine who is the winner of the maillot vert - with Cavendish firmly in position if Petacchi or Hushovd falter.

Alberto Contador (Astana) stayed out of trouble to retain the race leader's yellow jersey and his eight-second lead over Andy Schleck (Team Saxo Bank) ahead of Saturday's 52km time-trial from Bordeaux to Pauillac.

While the focus on Saturday will return to the maillot jaune duel between Contador and Schleck - set to end in the Spaniard's favour as he is the superior rider against the clock - Friday was all about the sprinters.

Cavendish defied the loss of his leadout man Mark Renshaw, who was excluded from the Tour for three headbutts to a rival on the 11th stage to Bourg-les-Valence, to power to another sensational sprint win.