Cavendish took yesterday's stage and today in Paso Robles, snatched victory on the line from Tom Boonen as Team Colombia and Cervelo battled it out with a kilometre left.
Mark Cavendish (Picture provided to Covsupport News Service by Team Colombia - Highroad
The victory in a time of 5hr 7mins 29 secs was Cavendish's fourth stage win of the season. Lance Armstrong finished 19th with Jens Voigt who had led for a good bit of the stage in 17th.
"This was the stage I was targeting since we got here, it worked out perfectly," Mark Cavendish said to www.cyclingnews.com. "The guys worked so well for us. It was touch and go whether we were going to get the break back. Once again it was George Hincapie and Mark Renshaw - once I get dropped off in that position there's no way I can do anything but win."
Stage Six tomorrow is a 15 mile team time trial in Solvang.In the Tour Of The Algarve, David Millar finished in 20th place on today's second stage.