Mark Cavendish stormed to his 22nd Tour de France stage win as Bradley Wiggins remained on course for overall victory….the world champion claimed his second victory of this year’s Tour on stage 18 as the peloton caught an escape group inside the final 1.5km.
Cavendish powered away in the final 500m to draw level with Lance Armstrong and Andre Darrigade in all-time wins.
“I just knew I was going to go for it,” said the 27-year-old. “I have done nothing all Tour so I have saved so much energy.
“I knew I would be able to go from a long way out, and no-one would get past me today. I felt really good.
“It would have been easy for the guys to cruise into Paris and Sean [Yates, Team Sky’s sporting director] was saying ‘just take it easy’ but I was pleading for a chance in the team meeting.
“But then Brad [Wiggins] said ‘we are going to ride today’ and Froomie [Chris Froome] committed to my cause and I’ll always be grateful for that. We have got a great group of guys. It has been an emotional three weeks but I have enjoyed it.”
The Tour de France ends tomorrow, but the Olympic cycling road race is a week from today. Can’t wait.
