British Cavendish rules crash-marred 5th stage

Cap Frehel, France  — British speedster Mark Cavendish won a windy and crash-marred fifth stage of the Tour de France in a mass sprint yesterday, as Thor Hushovd of Norway kept the leader’s yellow jersey.

Defending champion Alberto Contador fell in one crash and RadioShack rider Janez Brajkovic quit the race after another during the 164.5-kilometer (102-mile) trek from Carhaix to Cap Frehel on the English Channel.

Cavendish, one of the world’s best sprinters, collected his 16th career Tour stage victory and his first this year by speeding past Philippe Gilbert of Belgium — who finished second — and Jose Joaquin Rojas in third.

“I am really happy. It was a difficult finish,” said Cavendish, who rides with the HTC-Highroad team. “I put every thing into it … If we win, it’s not because we’re lucky, it’s because we’re good.”

The British rider, known almost as much for his powerful legs as his sharp tongue, took aim at unidentified critics who he said expressed doubts about his abilities.

“It’s always sweet to silence the ignoramuses,” he said.

But Gilbert succeeded in making him work hard in the sprint.

The top standings didn’t change because the vast majority of riders crossed in a pack right behind the sprinters. Hushovd kept his one-second lead over Cadel Evans of Australia in second. Frank Schleck of Luxembourg is third overall, 4 seconds back.

Schleck’s younger brother Andy — the Tour runner-up for the last two years — is 10th, 12 seconds behind. Contador, who lost time by getting caught up in a crash in Stage 1, is 39th overall, 1:42 behind Hushovd.

Wednesday’s stage, including a picturesque patch along rocky Brittany cliffs overlooking the Atlantic, was mostly marked by crashes that brought down some of the biggest names in the pack. Two riders pulled out, reducing the pack to 195.

“It was very nervous, and because of that you get a lot of crashes, because there are 200 riders who want to be in front,” said Hushovd, who retained the coveted yellow jersey for a fourth straight day.

Many riders were jostling to stay at the front — and ahead of possible group spills.

Contador, the Spanish three-time Tour champion, fell at about the 72-kilometer (44.7-mile) mark. With his Saxo Bank jersey ripped over the right shoulder, he took off his helmet briefly, then gave a thumbs-up to signal that he was all right. /ap