TOUR DE FRANCE: SLO-based Team Columbia rider wins today's stage

Mark Cavendish wins second straight race

By Staff and wire reports

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LA GRANDE-MOTTE, France -- Mark Cavendish, the sprinter who headlines San Luis Obispo-based Team Columbia HTC, today won his second straight stage at the Tour de France.

American rider Lance Armstrong, meanwhile, gained ground and is now third overall.

Yellow-jersey leader Fabian Cancellara extended his lead to 33 seconds after today's third stage.

Cavendish finished in an unofficial time of 5 hours, 1 minute, 24 seconds. Armstrong and 23 other riders had the same time.

The 24-year-old Englishman was led to the win by a group of about six Team Columbia riders. Under the direction of captain George Hincapie, they broke away from the main group with about six miles left in the race and pushed the pace.

The Team Columbia pack protected Cavendish from any harm until the final kilometer, and he took it from there and outsprinted three other riders to gain the victory.

The Tour said Armstrong will be fined the equivalent of $92 for failing to sign in before the stage. His team said the seven-time champion was delayed because of autographs and interviews.

Breakaway riders dominated the hot and breezy 122-mile course along the Mediterranean from Marseille to La Grande Motte. The race ends July 26 in Paris.

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