Cavendish sprints into history books

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The Manxman confirmed his status as the world's best sprinter with his fifth stage win of this year's race to make it nine in two years - one more than Barry Hoban, who claimed his eighth win in 1975.

Cavendish again held off rival Thor Hushovd but the Norwegian looks certain to keep the green jersey until Paris as he takes a lead of 25 points into the final two days.

The 24-year-old had hoped to complete his first Tour de France in green but that disappointment would be tempered significantly were he to win the showpiece final stage.

Saturday's 178-kilometre leg from Bourgoin-Jallieu to Aubenas looked like an outside chance for Cavendish, who was predicted to find the category two climb in the closing stages tough.

But his Colombia-HTC team-mates shepherded him over that in contention and then gave him the platform to attack 300 metres out.

And it was his team that were first in Cavendish's thoughts as he reflected on a record-breaking triumph.

"I'm really, really happy," he said. "It was a beautiful, beautiful win. We really didn't have this stage put down as one that would end in a bunch sprint, but we came through all the same.

"At the team meeting I told the guys that if we got to the climb all together and I could hang on, then I would do my absolute best to win.

"Half the team supported me all the way to the climb and half the team were there with me on the descent that followed and through to the finish. They were amazing, particularly if you consider that Saturday's a really hard mountain stage. Tony Martin led me out perfectly, even though it was a very tough uphill finish, but I did it."