Cavendish Wins Third As Renshaw Throws Haymaker – 97th Tour de France, Stage 11
Sprinting is a rough and tumble business. It is not for the faint of heart nor is it for those who lack intestinal fortitude.
Mark Cavendish (HTC-Columbia), Tyler Farrar (Team Garmin-Transitions), Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre-Farnese Vini), Thor Hushovd (Cervelo Test Team) and Robbie McEwen (Omega-Pharma Lotto), among others are first to come to mind when searching for that type of swashbuckling mentality in the professional peloton.
But there are also those sprinters like Mark Renshaw (HTC-Columbia) and Julian Dean (Garmin-Transitions) who carry as much bravado, but are rarely seen because of their roles as lead-out men.
Though Cavendish would garner all the well deserved accolades after taking the eleventh stage in the 97th edition of the Tour de France, his third win of this year's race and 13th overall in his career, the more significant story of the day lay in how he got to the podium.
In the chaotic build-up to the sprint finish, Renshaw broke out the kitchen sink to ensure his sprint leader's safe passage to the line. The relatively unseen and quiet Renshaw would throw a haymaker of a headbutt in the direction of Dean to prevent the Garmin-Transitions' rider from impeding his path. The scuffle ultimately opened up the hole to which Cavendish slid through, but it also left HTC-Columbia without a valuable piece in the lead-outs and in the hills as Renshaw was thrown out of the race for his actions.
Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre-Farnese Vini) would take second and Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Transitions) third.
Stage 11 Results
1. Mark Cavendish (GBr) Team HTC - Columbia
2. Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini
3. Tyler Farrar (USA) Garmin - Transitions
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General Classification After Stage 11
1. Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank
2. Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana - 0:00:41
3. Samuel Sánchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi - 0:02:45
4. Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank - 0:02:58
5. Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto - 0:03:31
6. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Team Radioshack - 0:03:59
7. Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank - 0:04:22
8. Luis León Sánchez Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne - 0:04:41
9. Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Team Katusha - 0:05:08
10. Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo - 0:05:09
Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre-Farnese Vini) climbs back into the lead of the maillot vert , while Jérôme Pineau (Quick Step) reclaimed the maillot pois-a-rouges.
Jersey Leaders After Stage 11
maillot jaune - Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank
maillot vert - Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini
maillot à pois rouges - Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Quick Step
maillot blanc - Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank
Next: Stage 12 -Bourge-de-Péage to Mende (210.5km)
Another hilly day. Follow our LIVE Tour de France coverage on LIVESTRONG.com
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Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images
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