Stage 20
HTC-Columbia's Mark Cavendish became the first ever rider in history to win for two years running on the Champs-Elysées as he racked up his fifth stage victory in the 2010 Tour de France. Already the winner of stages five, six, 11 and 18 this year, Cavendish's victory in the Tour's final stage is the fifteenth of his career in cycling's top event, and his 59th road win since turning pro in 2007.
"My Tour didn't start too well and in the first week I was wondering how it would turn out," Cavendish said. "But the team rode incredibly strongly for me and I tried to make amends. As the race progressed my feelings got better and better and winning here in Paris on the most spectacular finish of them all is a great way to end the race. When you win you get confident, when you're confident you win. It's as simple as that."
"[HTC-Columbia teammate] Bernie Eisel took me to the tunnel and then Tony Martin dropped me off where I needed to be to go for the win. It's been a real rollercoaster event, but the people here in France always make it special and I want to thank all of them, the team and support staff and all the other people who have helped me all the way."
Cavendish dedicated Sunday's win to Tyler Blick, son of Steve Blick of Oakley.
The win in Paris concluded team HTC-Columbia's successful 2010 Tour de France which included Tony Martin wearing the Young Rider's jersey in three stages, taking second place in the Prologue and the Individual Time Trial, and Bert Grabsch finishing third in the ITT.
Stage 18
HTC-Columbia's Mark Cavendish netted his fourth stage win of the 2010 Tour on Friday, bringing his career total of victories in cycling's flagship event to 14. Already victorious on stages five, six and 11 of the 2010 Tour, Cavendish's latest win came on stage 18's 19- kilometre run from Sales-de-Bearn to Bordeaux. The HTC-Columbia rider sprinted across the finish line more than a bike length ahead of second-placed Julian Dean, and third-placed Italy's Alessandro Petacchi, to seize the seventh win of his 2010 season and 58th road victory of his professional career.
"When Petacchi accelerated with 275 metres to go, he surprised me," Cavendish said later. "But I got past him okay and I was pretty happy about that. It was easier than I expected. I didn't know how big the gap was between me and the next guy was, though, because all I see is the finish line. In any case, it doesn't matter how much or how little you win by, it's winning that matters."
Cavendish explained that he looked back at the peloton as he reached the line in order to keep his sprint effort to a minimum. "I wanted to conserve as much energy as possible. Tomorrow [the Tour's last time trial] will be hard; 50 kilometres by myself."
Asked about his chances in the green jersey competition, in which he is currently third, Cavendish said that at this point his aim is to take a final stage victory in Paris for a second year in the row. "I've got to try to win on the Champs-Elysées, whatever the situation is, and that's all I can do."
Stage 11
HTC-Columbia's Mark Cavendish has scored his third stage win of the 2010 Tour de France on Thursday, the thirteenth stage victory of his career in cycling's biggest bike race. The HTC-Columbia sprinter beat Italian Alessandro Petacchi and American Tyler Farrar by over two bike lengths on stage 11, a 184.5 kilometre ride from Sisteron to Bourg-les-Valence.
"I'm really pleased to have won again," Cavendish, already the victor in stages five and six, said afterwards. "The team did a great job and we worked hard for this throughout the stage."
Asked about challenging for the green points jersey, a competition in which he is currently placed fourth, Cavendish responded "it's still possible. There are two or three sprints left in the race, and hopefully I can get more wins. We'll see what happens then and take it stage by stage."
Cavendish's latest Tour victory is his sixth of the 2010 season and the 57th road win of his career.
Stage 6
HTC-Columbia's Mark Cavendish has clinched a second straight win in the Tour de France on Friday, powering across the finish line at Gueugnon at the head of the pack for the twelfth stage victory of his career in the race.
Already a winner on stage five of the Tour on Thursday, 24 hours later on stage six Cavendish was once more the fastest and could claim his fifth victory of the season.
Cavendish completed the 227.5 kilometre stage, the longest in this year's Tour, more than a bike length ahead of second place Tyler Farrar of the USA, with Italian Alessandro Petacchi in third.
"Yesterday was really emotional, and today I'm really happy, too. As ever the boys did a great job working hard all the way through the finish and I can't thank them enough for that," Cavendish said afterwards. "HTC-Columbia is not a team of eight guys and me. I'm just the last rider in a nine-man unit."
"[HTC-Columbia teammate] Michael Rogers did some really good work in the final kilometres and then I went with [teammate] Mark Renshaw at the end, following him from one team's train to another. Finally all I had to do was finish off my team's good work, giving it everything with 200 metres to go."
The Briton's latest win is the 56th road victory of his professional career, which includes four stage wins of the Tour de France in 2008, six in 2009 and two in 2010.
Stage 5
Mark Cavendish Blasts to Eleventh Tour de France Stage Win of Career
HTC-Columbia's Mark Cavendish has blasted to the eleventh Tour de France stage win of his career Thursday. The 25-year-old's victory came on stage four of the Tour, a 153-kilometre run from Eparnay to Montargis, crossing the line more than a bike length ahead of Germany's Gerald Ciolek. Cavendish hugged and thanked each of his HTC-Columbia teammates after what was a particularly emotional victory.
"Yesterday [Wednesday] didn't go so great. I felt like I'd let the team down when I couldn't finish off with a win," Cavendish said afterwards. "But the team has always believed in me. They gave it 100 percent for me today again, and they never gave up on me. I really wanted to win a stage in the best bike race in the world, too, and now I've been able to do that today. It's amazing."
"The pressure's been really intense," added Cavendish. "It's been really tough at times, but I want to thank all the people who have supported me though the hard moments. I've got an incredible group of friends and family, and a once-in-a-lifetime team, and they picked me up and all helped me to recover. We came here with ambitions to win stages, and I'll keep trying for more stages in the future."
Cavendish's win is the 38th for HTC-Columbia's men team in the 2010 season, and is the 55th road victory of his professional career. On a great day's racing for HTC-Columbia, Cavendish's victory coincided with a win for American teammate Evelyn Stevens, in stage seven of the Giro Donne in Italy.
Join HTC-Columbia during the Tour de France as we support children around the world through Right To Play.
Throughout the month of July, HTC-Columbia highlights our ongoing support of Right To Play by offering for auction 1) a VIP once-in-a-lifetime experience: ride in the team car during Stage 19 at the Tour, July 24th along with a team jersey signed by all the Tour riders; and 2) a team bike, the Scott Addict.
Right To Play, an international humanitarian organization, teaches life lessons to disadvantaged children around the world through sport and play. Our goal is to raise $25,000 USD during the month of July to provide Right To Play programs for at least 500 children around the world through this initiative. Help us to achieve that goal and bid on the VIP experience, the team bike, or make a donation here: http://righttoplay.akaraisin.com/e/TeamHTCColumbia.aspx
HTC-Columbia Targets Green Jersey, Overall Contention at Tour
Team HTC-Columbia will focus on winning the Green Jersey and contending in the General Classification at the 2010 Tour de France, and has selected a team that can support both goals. The nine riders selected are Mark Cavendish, Bernhard Eisel, Bert Grabsch, Adam Hansen, Tony Martin, Maxime Monfort, Mark Renshaw, Michael Rogers and Kanstantsin Sivtsov.
"Selecting the team was very hard for us again this year," said Team Manager Rolf Aldag. "It was hard enough selecting a long list of 15, but to bring it down to only nine riders involved some very difficult decisions. In the end we have to leave at home several riders who also deserve a chance to ride the Tour.
"Our decisions were based on two goals," he added. "First, we wanted a strong team to support Mark Cavendish and winning the Green jersey. To win, we need to concentrate all points with one sprinter. As a result we have not included André Greipel in the roster. Mark won six stages of the Tour de France last year and we have faith that he will be highly successful in the 2010 Tour.
"Renshaw, Eisel, Grabsch and Hansen will be the main support for the sprint stages with of course the other riders also playing a part in the lead out train as well.
"Second, we wanted to field a team who can focus on the overall. Rogers has had the best season of his career to date and is very focused on contending in the general classification. Tony Martin comes off a very successful Tour de Suisse where he held the yellow jersey for the first part of the race and won the closing time trial, making him the first person to beat Fabian Cancellara in a time trial in three years.
"They will be supported by Maxime Monfort, who showed excellent form at Tour de Suisse, Adam Hansen, who won the Ster Elektro stage race last weekend and Kanstantsin Sivtsov who is a tireless worker on both flat and mountainous terrain."
"We are going into the race focused on our combined strength as a team and will exploit every chance for success- stage wins, jerseys and outstanding performances," said Team Owner Bob Stapleton.
HTC-Columbia for 2010 Tour de France: Mark Cavendish [GBR], Bernhard Eisel [AUT], Bert Grabsch [GER], Adam Hansen [AUS], Tony Martin [GER], Maxime Monfort [BEL], Mark Renshaw [AUS], Michael Rogers [AUS] and Kanstantsin Sivtsov [BLR].
