Cavendish strikes back in Tour de France

Mark Cavendish struck back today in Montargis after taking a beating in the Tour de France's previous two stages.

"You know, we had some bad luck in the first few days in the Tour. Yesterday, we finally had good luck, but I didn't finish off the work and I was a bit disappointed," said Cavendish. "It's a great relief, a great sense of achievement."

His achievement adds to his six stage wins last year and four from 2008, and gives promise of more to come. His HTC-Columbia team, however, has had to struggle to get its train in order after losing George Hincapie to BMC over the off season and seeing Adam Hansen abandon due to a crash in stage two to Brussels.

HTC-Columbia had to adjust its train at this Tour de France, putting some men to work earlier and allowing some rival teams to join in the train. Tyler Farrar's Garmin-Transitions team took over today in the final three kilometres and nearly pulled off the win. HTC, though, re-took control.

"They did an incredible job and it could have been easy for them to lose faith, but they didn't," continued Cavendish. "They rode again today. [Kanstantsin] Siutsou rode there for what seemed like 300K; Michael Rogers, Tony Martin got GC ambitions and they are riding full gas; Bert Grabsch and Maxime Monfort are going to have to be on the front for the mountains, but they gave it all today; and Bernie Eisel and Mark Renshaw were incredible at the finish, they kept me out of trouble and from being knocked around by other teams.

"I am really happy I could finish it off for them."

Cavendish appeared emotional yesterday after his loss, letting his bike lose before the bus, and today, his emotions were high again, this time thanks to a win. His eyes watered up as he talked, showing how much this Tour de France win meant to him.

"People were tugging and eventually pulled me down," he added. "My team stayed around me. This sport's my life, you know, I love it. I train, race because I love it."

He will be able to show his love for the sport again tomorrow and three other possible sprint stages in this Tour de France. Tomorrow's stage takes the riders 227.5 kilometres to Gueugnon, with the final 20 kilometres featuring a category four climb that he will be able to conquer.

Tour de France 2010: Latest news

Thomas happy with Tour's white jersey; but says 'All for Brad'

Cavendish keeps up fight for first Tour win

Sky delivers Boasson Hagen to third without pressure

Thomas in tour's white jersey; Wiggins gains time

Evans and Schleck gain in Tour's hell of the north

The Feed Zone: Tour news and views (July 6)

Vande Velde abandons Tour following crash

Andy Schleck has a laugh after stage two crash

The Feed Zone: News and views (July 5)

Sky banks on Thomas ahead of cobbled stage

Cavendish's sprint train weakened with Hansen out

Armstrong under fire as Landis allegations reach mainstream

Team Sky's decision to put Wiggins off early back fires

Tour de France 2010: Stage reports

Stage five: Cavendish wins his first stage of Tour

Stage four: Petacchi wins into Reims

Stage three: Hushovd takes dramatic win; Thomas second on stage and GC

Stage three live coverage: As it happened

Stage two: Comeback man Chavanel takes victory in Spa

Stage one: Petacchi wins in Brussels as bunch left in tatters

Prologue: Cancellara pips Martin to win

Tour de France 2010: Photos

Stage three photo gallery

Stage two photo gallery

Stage one gallery

Prologue photo gallery

Tour de France 2010: Videos

Stage four video highlights

Stage three video highlights

Stage two video highlights

Stage one video highlights

Prologue video highlights

Tour de France 2010: Race guide

Tour de France 2010: Cycling Weekly's coverage index

Official start list, with race numbers

Brits at the Tour 2010

Tout team guide

Tour jerseys: What they are and what they mean

Brits in the Tours: From Robinson to Wiggins

Tour de France 2010: Pictures

Tour team presentation, Rotterdam

Tour teams take to the cobbles: Photo special