Cavendish claims fourth stage win

8:08pm Friday 18th July 2008

Mark Cavendish continued to enhance his reputation as cycling's new sprint king with a fourth stage win in the 2008 Tour de France.

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.

After his fourth success of the Tour, Cavendish told BBC Radio 5 Live: "I was trying that hard, so to get another win was really good.

"It's a bit impossible to comprehend but now I'd see it as a failure to not carry on winning."

The 23-year-old continued: "The sport has always appealed to me - I've always loved it.

"I like my motor bikes being from the Isle of Man but the fact cycling is down to the rider, not the engine, appeals to me a lot."

Cavendish added: "I only planned to do 10 days of the Giro de Paris but finished it and now I'm 13 days into the Tour not feeling too tired - I'll take every day as it comes and see how far I can get."

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