CAVENDISH CROWNS GREEN JERSEY WITH FINAL STAGE WIN IN PARIS
HTC-Highroad’s Mark Cavendish crowned his first ever points jersey win in the Tour de France with a third straight victory on the Champs Elysées. The Manxman took his fifth sprint win of the 2011 race at the end of a ninety-five kilometer stage from Creteil to Paris, blasting ahead of Edvald Boasson Hagen of Norway and Germany’s Andre Greipel.
The first British rider ever to win the points jersey, Cavendish said afterwards there could not have been a better way to round off his battle for green than with the twentieth stage win of his career in the Tour de France.
“I finally got it, but it didn’t come easy,” Cavendish said, “I really had to fight for it all the way to the last finish line and I’m very tired, but it was worth all that effort.”
“I had eight fantastic team-mates around me all the way, they kept working with me, I was close to getting it for the last two years and now it’s finally here.”
“I’m so happy, it’s incredible. It’s a great way to finish the Tour and a super, super emotional day.”
HTC-Highroad completed the 2011 Tour de France as the team with the most victories; five for Cavendish and one on Saturday for Germany’s Tony Martin.
