Cavendish storms Paris with sixth Tour stage win

Britain's Mark Cavendish proved his dominance as the fastest man in cycling with a storming win in the 21st and final stage of the Tour de France in Paris yesterday.

With 300m to go, the Manx rider and his Columbia-HTC lead-out man Mark Renshaw tore out of the pack on the Champs Élysées. Renshaw brought Cavendish up to speed before Cavendish powered past him to eclipse the number of stage wins by any riders in this year's race. Four Spanish riders won a total of five stages, including two for the Tour's overall winner, Alberto Contador. Luxembourg's Andy Schleck finished second while American Lance Armstrong took the third spot on the podium.

"To cross the line with your arms in the air on the Champs-Elysées is one of the most best dreams you can have," Cavendish said after the race. "It didn't disappoint me. Hearing the crowd, riding on the cobbles, it's a beautiful and proud feeling."

Meanwhile Bradley Wiggins took England's best-ever overall finish, with a fourth in Paris. The 29-year-old Londoner, who shed 7kg in his build-up to the race, said that the placing surpassed his expectations. "I came into this race looking for a top-20 place in Paris, so this is much better than anything I expected." 

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING:Richard Williams, the Guardian: "In cycling bunch sprints are usually won by inches. Mark Cavendish is starting to win them by margins that can be counted in seconds, just like a normal road stage. Yesterday there were gasps of astonishment as he thundered towards the distant Arc de Triomphe, with his rivals in no position to offer even a token dispute. So brilliantly had Cavendish and his Columbia team manipulated the final kilometre of the race that Mark Renshaw, his lead-out man, was able to take an equally unchallenged second place."

Jeremy Whittle, the Times: With 10 stage wins in only three Tour participations, the cyclist from the Isle of Man is now Britain's most successful Tour rider. Cavendish was once again untouchable in the final 250 metres and quickly moved so far ahead of his rivals that the Manx rider was able to celebrate before crossing the finish line.

Alasdair Fotheringham, the Independent: "Wiggins' weight loss programme since the Olympics, shedding 7kg, and concentrating fully on the road has been widely credited with his radical improvement in the mountains in the Tour. Always a strong time triallist, when combined with far better climbing Wiggins has suddenly been converted into an overall contender." ·