Tour De France / Tobias Gourlay / 14 July 2009 / Leave a comment

Tobias Gourlay clings on to Mark Cavendish's back wheel.

Mark Cavendish was the winner of Bastille Day, moving within one stage win of equalling Barry Hoban's British record of eight. Hoban won his stages between 1967 and 1975; Cavendish's first stage win was only last year.

The Manxman has been untouchable in bunch sprints this year, and is a [3.30] shot to win his fourth stage of the 2009 Tour today. There are a couple of Category four climbs en route from Vatan to Saint Fargeau in Burgundy, but any winner of Milan-San Remo should deal with those comfortably enough. Rinaldo Nocentini will now be hopeful of keeping the yellow jersey all the way into the Alps on Friday. He is [1.08] to make it through to tomorrow at least.

His team helped him conserve energy in the mountains, and Cavendish said he felt good coming out of the other side of the Pyrenees yesterday. Yesterday's relatively slow pace (38kph, or 3kph lower than the official prediction) is another small bonus.

Such has been Cannonball's dominance, the possibility of other sprinters' teams not bothering to even try to control the race - allowing those pesky baroudeurs chances to escape - is perhaps the main concern of his backers today. But, while Thor Hushovd continues to make a contest of the green jersey (the Norwegian is [1.88] favourite at the moment), Cervelo will be around to offer assistance to Team Columbia, and should ensure another sprint finish. This column's all over Cavendish. Again.