Cavendish rides into history with win

British cyclist Mark Cavendish rode into the history books in yesterday's 11th stage of the Tour de France, when he picked up his fourth stage win of this year's event and his eighth career victory on the 192km route from Vatan to St Fargeau.

Cavendish was delivered to the front of the peloton by his Columbia-HTC team with 200m to go, before repulsing attacks from fellow sprinters Thor Hushovd and Tyler Farrar. He has now equalled Barry Hoban's record of career stage wins for a British rider, and has regained the green jersey for points leader from Hushovd.

Elsewhere, little changed in the rankings, with Italy's Rinaldo Nocentini retaining the maillot jaune, ahead of Astana teammates Alberto Contador and Lance Armstrong in second and third, respectively six and eight seconds behind him.

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING
Richard Williams, the Guardian: "After another withering victory in a bunch sprint, Mark Cavendish found himself being called to account over allegations that he has been displaying signs of arrogance. Accused by L'Equipe, the French sports daily newspaper, of uttering lurid anti-French remarks while being kept in a queue at an airport on Sunday night, he provided a response quite as entertaining as the race itself. 'I take it as a compliment that they're going to try and start shit about something that's nothing to do with my bike riding, because they've got nothing to criticise my bike riding about.'"

Chris Barrett, Daily Telegraph: "There were no premeditated celebrations this time - such as the mimicking of a mobile phone call or polishing of his green sunglasses that had marked previous wins - only heartfelt joy and relief at one of the best wins of his career that brings his dream of winning the green jersey on the Champs Elysees next Sunday signficantly closer. His win on Wednesday - his fourth on the 2009 tour thus far - also saw him draw level with Barry Hoban as the most successful British Tour rider of all time with eight stage wins in total. Hoban accumulated those in the course of 12 tours, Cavendish has equalled him in just two and half with all eight wins coming in the last 13 months."

Owen Slot, the Times: "The 'fastest man on two wheels' line now is hardly surprising, albeit that it came from Lance Armstrong. So elevated is Cavendish in the sport that he got to appear in Armstrong's daily video on Tuesday, filmed in the Novotel hotel in Limoges before that day's tenth stage. The American, chummy as you like, tells Cavendish repeatedly: 'You're going to win today.' From inside the heart of Cavendish's team, Columbia-HTC, this is the story of the tenth stage, of how Cavendish proved Armstrong right." ·