FOUGERES, France (AP) – British rider Mark Cavendish won a sprint finish Friday for the 26th Tour de France stage victory of his career, while countryman Chris Froome retained the overall lead as he bids to win the race for a second time.
This time there was no crash near the finish, like the one on Thursday’s sixth stage that cost German rider Tony Martin a broken collarbone, forcing him to withdraw while wearing the race leader’s yellow jersey.
Cavendish is Martin’s teammate on the Etixx-Quick Step team, and can empathize with the German after separating his right shoulder in a crash on the first stage of last year’s Tour.
“Losing Tony was going to be a big loss for the team but we said today that we were going to win for him,” Cavendish said. “He’s an incredible part of the team on and off the bike.”
Cavendish timed his attack to perfection to catch German sprinter Andre Greipel near the line.