Mark Cavendish (HTC-Columbia) made a great comeback in stage 5 and showed he still has the speed to win sprints at the Tour de France with a perfectly timed and perfectly executed late charge to the line in Montargis.

Germany’s Gerald Ciolek (Milram) jumped at the same time as Cavendish but was beaten for speed and finished second. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Team Sky) came from behind Cavendish to take third.

Cavendish celebrates - Courtesy Roberto Bettini

An emotional Cavendish - Courtesy Roberto Bettini

“It means everything to win,” Cavendish said. “It’s incredibly emotional. All the pressure and emotion built up but it’s finally over.”

“It was hard this year. I always said everything was about the Tour de France. Thing didn’t go our way yesterday. I let them down massively and it would have been easy for them to say ‘He hasn’t got it’ like other people did. But they rode for me. Siutsou rode covered in bandages and Rogers was there at the finish and took it on, too. Renshaw did an incredible job, fighting with Thor [Hushovd], with Tyler [Farrar] and with Oscar [Freire]. I knew he’d drop me off at the right place.”

Cancellara remains in yellow - Courtesy Roberto Bettini