American Team Rider Wins 5th Stage

Yesterday's stage of the Tour de France was 144 miles long, but it came down to a dash for the finish line by some of the world's best sprinters. That sprint was won by Mark Cavendish, a member of America's Team Columbia. It was the first time the British citizen had ever won a leg of the Tour de France, and he had to out-sprint some of the world's best to do it -- Thor Hushovd, Oscar Freire and Erik Zabel.

Cavendish (pictured above) has won 8 other bike races this year, but had never won in the Tour. He was asked if he thought he was the best sprinter in the world and replied, "When you have a team like I have, it is impossible not to be the best." This was also the first stage win for either of the American teams this year, although they remain in first and second place in the team standings.

Since the race was won by sprinters and most riders got the same time for finishing in the peloton, the overall standings remain as they were yesterday. Schumacher will wear the yellow jersey again in tomorrows race, while members of the two American teams are still in second and third place (Kirchen of Columbia and Millar of Garmin Chipotle).