Cycling: Cavendish's win will ease Pyrenees pain

Published on Thursday 14 July 2011 07:33

Suffering in the mountains will be a little bit easier for cyclist Mark Cavendish today after taking the Tour de France points classification leader's green jersey.

While overall contenders Alberto Contador and Andy Schleck will come to the fore on today's 211km 12th stage from Cugnaux to Luz-Ardiden, Cavendish will merely be trying to get through the Pyrenees unscathed.

The 26-year-old from the Isle of Man yesterday claimed the 18th Tour stage success of his career - moving to seventh on the all-time list - on the 167.5km 11th stage from Blaye-les-Mines to Lavaur.

The 45 points for the win and nine from the day's intermediate sprint in Gaillac - leading the peloton over the line after the six-man breakaway - saw Cavendish take a 16-point lead in the race for the maillot vert, after seizing control of the competition from Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto).

Cavendish now has 251 points, with Jose Joaquin Rojas (Movistar) second on 235 and Gilbert third on 231 in what appears to be a three-horse race.

Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) retained the race leader's yellow jersey.