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.
