TOUR DE FRANCE: Cavendish sprints to Champs-Élysées victory

MARK Cavendish produced a trademark stunning late burst of speed to claim his fifth stage of the 2010 Tour de France - winning the sprinters showpiece on the Champs-Élysées yet again.

CELEBRATE: Mark Cavendish enjoys his fifth stage victory of the 2010 Tour de France - his 15th win in the race in just three years (Action Images)

Cavendish's victory on the most prestigious of stages moves him to joint-sixth on the all-time list of post-War stage winners, with 15 victories in just three years.

But he narrowly failed to win the green jersey he really prizes. Italian Alessandro Petacchi finishing second in Paris to protect his possession of the maillot vert.

"You've got to be happy with winning one stage because this is the hardest and biggest bike race in the world and you need to show it respect," said Cavendish.

GREEN JERSEY STANDINGS 2010 1. A Petacchi (ITA) 243 2. M Cavendish (GBR) 232 3. T Hushovd (NOR) 222

"It was a tough start to the Tour for me but the team kept going and working for me and when I managed that first win I got a bit more confidence and got on a roll.

"Winning in Paris is the absolute pinnacle. I knew the green was out of contention really. It would have been down to Alessandro's bad luck if I'd got it.

"But this stage is an icon of the sport and it means the world to me to win it again.

"It's the perfect ending to my Tour and I can't wait to celebrate it now."