Emotional Cavendish bounces back as Cancellara remains in yellow

THE winning feeling returned for Mark Cavendish on the fifth stage of the Tour de France after a fraught and forgettable period on and off the bike.

The 25-year-old HTC-Columbia sprinter recorded his 11th Tour stage win in three seasons on the 187.5-kilometres stage from Epernay to Montargis, having failed to deliver in Sunday’s first stage – when he crashed – and in Wednesday’s fourth stage, as he struggled to accelerate with the finish line at his mercy.

Yesterday Cavendish returned to his customary pose – arms aloft and chest puffed out in a victory salute – as he finished ahead of his former leadout man Gerald Ciolek (Team Milram) and Team Sky’s Edvald Boasson Hagen, who finished third for the second successive day.