Cavendish makes it six of the best in Paris

LOVE him or loathe him, when Mark Cavendish puts his mind to something he invariably delivers.

UNBEATABLE: Mark Cavendish takes his sixth stage win in the most emphatic of fashions

While the green jersey has eluded him, the Manxman has done what he set out to do - arrive in Paris and cross the finishing line first.

There are few certainties in modern sport but Cavendish winning a sprint finish if his altruistic team-mates drop him into position is as close as it gets.

And Cavendish, who became the first ever Brit to win in Paris, did not so much outsprint everyone as demolish the rest of the field - crossing the line at least 20m clear.

"It's so amazing - I just had to win," said Cavendish. "I said all along I wanted to win on the Champs-Elysees and the feeling of victory didn't disappoint.

"Winning on the Champs-Elysees is what every sprinter dreams of - crossing the line with their hands in the air - and I wanted it so badly. And again my team did so well to get me there again.

The Columbia train arrived in Paris as emphatically as the TGV - as we have come to expect on a stage as flat as a pancake - they dominated the peleton and dictated the climax to the 2009 Tour.

Mark Renshaw - as is his way - perfectly delivered Cavendish onto the Champs-Elysees and the Brit burst for the line.

But this time not a single rival was in sight. No Thor Hushovd, no Tyler Farrar and Cavendish had a clear run across the finish line for his sixth stage win of the Tour.

There was no need to grit his teeth, no unrelenting pursuit - Cavendish could enjoy the closing seconds of the race, and didn't he relish it.

Meanwhile, Mont Ventoux resolved the numerous unanswered questions in the quest for the maillot jaune yesterday.

Alberto Contador is the worthy winner while Saxo Bank's Andy Schleck proved his time will come in the not too distant future.

The jury is still out on Lance Armstrong's comeback but he did enough to suggest he'll be in the mix next year and no-one deserved their top-four finish more than Bradley Wiggins, who dragged his carcass through the Alps.   

The majority of the peleton then, were happy to saunter into Paris at a pedestrian pace - but not Cavendish.

The 24-year-old defines tenacity. And there is quite simply no-one as quick in a street race.

After four stage wins in his first tour last year and six this time around, there's only one thing left for Cavendish to secure.

And despite victory on the Champs-Elysees you can bet the shirt on your back that when it comes to Hushovd, Cavendish is already green with envy.

"I didn't win the green jersey but I think if it wasn't for the discrepancy where I was docked points I would have got it. But then perhaps Thor would have approached things differently today," he added.

"He's a lovely guy on and off the bike. Everybody knows I mouth off when I'm upset but everything is OK and we enjoyed the ride up Mont Ventoux yesterday together.

"Next year I want to keep winning stages but hopefully, with another year under my belt, I'll be able to get the green jersey."