The 207.5 kilometre flat stage marked a return to comfortable territory for the world champion following five categorised climbs and a grueling uphill finish yesterday.

It was Cavendish's 21st Tour stage win in Tournai yesterday, putting him sixth in the all-time list for stage victories, just one behind seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong.

The record is held by Belgium's Eddy Merckx, who has 34 stage victories to his name.

Cavendish held off Andre Greipel and Matthew Goss in a race reminiscent of the last World Championships in Copenhagen, when the Manx Missile also beat the Australian and the German for gold.

Cavendish's win today was all the more impressive since he was not afforded the luxury of a lead out by his team, as he was so reliably given last year when he took five stage wins in total.

Greipel looked strongest coming into the final kilometres, his team Lotto Belisol commanding the lead.

The German was positioned perfectly, Cavendish 20 or so places back.

But the Briton worked his way from wheel to wheel, until there was no one left to pass.

Today's win affirms Cavendish as a true tactician.

As the bunch jostled for position, he kept a cool head, picking a route through the tumultuous field.

For a man that went into the Tour with a basic goal of just "a stage win," this marks the most impressive of starts.

Team Sky are devoted to the overall success of fellow-Briton Bradley Wiggins, who retained second place overall behind Switzerland's Fabian Cancellara, who kept hold of the yellow leader's jersey.


"The team this year is for the yellow jersey," said Cavendish (pictured above).

"It's a new configuration and I knew it wouldn't be easy."

In the points classification, Cavendish trails first stage winner Peter Sagan of Slovakia by 15 points but he pledged to defend the green jersey so dearly won a year ago even if his main goal of the season remains the Olympic title in London.

"I'll keep trying," he said.

"This is the Tour de France, the biggest race in the world, the most important event in cycling.

"I cannot say the Games are more important.

"Let's say they're level."

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