Cavendish targets final stage victory

Mark Cavendish admits his “big objective” is to win the final stage of the Tour de France on the Champs Elysees in Paris.

Cavendish won his third stage of this year’s Tour yesterday as he fights for the green jersey and needs one more stage win to equal his success last year.

Thor Hushovd pushed the Briton all the way on the final dash to the line in stage 10 but the Beijing Olympian showed typical grit to pull away as he took 35 points in his bid to be crowned top sprinter ahead of the Norwegian.

Hushovd collected 30 points for staying on the Manxman’s wheel but the gap between him and Cavendish is now down to six.

Cavendish believes he could win as many as four more stages, including the Tour finale on July 26 in Paris.

“There are four more opportunities for bunch sprints, three more this week, and I’ll keep on going for the wins,” he said. “My big objective is to win on the Champs Elysees in Paris on the last day.”