Cavendish outpaces old guard for unprecedented fourth Tour victory

Cavendish emerged to the left of veteran sprinter Robbie McEwen to become only
the second British rider to win back-to-back stages in a Grand Tour with victory
in stage 13 from Narbonne to Nimes.

The quick run-in to Nimes was again perfect for the sprinters, and the old
guard of Erik Zabel, Thor Hushovd and McEwen once again had no answer to
Cavendish's speed in the final 100 metres.

Record-breaker: Cavendish celebrates winning his second successive stage in the Tour in Nimes

Cadel Evans retained the yellow jersey by finishing in the main pack at the end of the 182-kilometer (113.1-mile) 13th stage from Narbonne to Nimes.

The 31-year-old Australian has a one-second lead over Frank Schleck of Luxembourg and is 38 seconds ahead of U.S. rider Christian Vande Velde in third.

Earlier, the Saunier Duval team fired Italian rider Riccardo Ricco, winner of the sixth and ninth stages.

He was removed from the race Thursday after testing positive for an advanced version of banned blood booster EPO. Ricco was the third rider to test positive for EPO with the race reeling from a string of doping scandals.

TOUR DE FRANCE RESULTS

1. Mark Cavendish, Britain, Team Columbia, 4 hours, 25 minutes, 42 seconds.

2. Robbie McEwen, Australia, Silence-Lotto, same time.

3. Romain Feillu, France, Agritubel, same time.

4. Heinrich Haussler, Germany, Gerolsteiner, same time.

5. Oscar Freire, Spain, Rabobank, same time.

6. Thor Hushovd, Norway, Credit Agricole, same time.

7. Leonardo Duque, Colombia, Cofidis, same time.

8. Erik Zabel, Germany, Team Milram, same time.

9. Julian Dean, New Zealand, Garmin Chipotle, same time.

10. Sebastien Chavanel, France, Francaise des Jeux, same time.

11. Robert Hunter, South Africa, Barloworld, same time.

12. Gert Steegmans, Belgium, Quick Step, same time.

13. Inaki Isasi, Spain, Euskaltel-Euskadi, same time.

14. Arnaud Coyot, France, Caisse d'Epargne, same time.

15. Ruben Perez, Spain, Euskaltel-Euskadi, same time.

16. Xavier Florencio, Spain, Bouygues Telecom, same time.

17. Martijn Maaskant, Netherlands, Garmin Chipotle, same time.

18. Alessandro Ballan, Italy, Lampre, same time.

19. Robert Foerster, Germany, Gerolsteiner, same time.

20. Jimmy Casper, France, Agritubel, same time.

OVERALL STANDINGS (after 13 stages)

1. Cadel Evans, Australia, Silence-Lotto, 54 hours, 48 minutes, 47 seconds.

2. Frank Schleck, Luxembourg, Team CSC Saxo Bank, :01.

3. Christian Vandevelde, United States, Garmin Chipotle, :38.

4. Bernhard Kohl, Austria, Gerolsteiner, :46.

5. Denis Menchov, Russia, Rabobank, :57.

6. Carlos Sastre, Spain, Team CSC Saxo Bank, 1:28.

7. Kim Kirchen, Luxembourg, Team Columbia, 1:56.

8. Vladimir Efimkin, Russia, AG2R-La Mondiale, 2:32.

9. Mikel Astarloza, Spain, Euskaltel-Euskadi, 3:51.

10. Vincenzo Nibali, Italy, Liquigas, 4:18.

11. Samuel Sanchez, Spain, Euskaltel-Euskadi, 4:26.

12. Alejandro Valverde, Spain, Spain, Caisse d'Epargne, 4:41.

13. Tadej Valjavec, Slovenia, AG2R-La Mondiale, 5:23.

14. Damiano Cunego, Italy, Lampre, 5:37.

15. Oscar Pereiro, Spain, Caisse d'Epargne, 6:01.

16. Alexandre Botcharov, Russia, Credit Agricole, 6:07.

17. Stefan Schumacher, Germany, Gerolsteiner, 6:26.

18. Maxime Monfort, Belgium, Cofidis, 7:07.

19. Roman Kreuziger, Czech Republic, Liquigas, 7:11.

20. Andy Schleck, Luxembourg, Team CSC Saxo Bank, 8:45.