Despite the best efforts of the best teams in the world to set up their sprinters, on a stage where the straight flat finish gave them every advantage, no one could stop the amazing Mark Cavendish, who outsprinted the field to seize his fourth stage win of the 2008 Tour de France.
The race started with an immediate attack by Milram’s Niki Terpstra and and Cofidis rider Florent Brard. This pair stayed out front for most of the race.
They were joined by others on occasion, but all the attackers dropped back eventually until only Terpstra remain; he was reeled in with 10 km to go.
At 8 km to go, Cofidis rider Sylvain Chavanel jumped out, but he was caught with 3.3 km left.
Milram set up for Erik Zabel, Credit Agricole tried to lead out Thor Hushovd; Liquigas, which led much of the final 15 km, tried to lead out their man, Francesco Chicchi; Gerolsteiner moved up on the right, bringing up Fabiam Wegman; Quickstep assembled to support Gert Steegmans.
Team Columbia was buried behind the big European teams, and at 500 km out it seemed that Mark Cavendish was completely boxed in.
Team Columbia was worn out, so Cavendish was following other teams; he had for the other sprinters to break before he could make a move.
With half a kilometer to go, Thor Hushovd moved out down the right, and Cavendish saw a slight gap to his left. He dove through the hole and put down the power, and that was the race.
Cavendish again simply outaccelerated the best sprinters in professional bicycling and took the win in Stage Thirteen of the 2008 Tour.
Friends Read Free