BRIGNOLES, France, (Reuters) – Mark Cavendish made it  clear he is probably untouchable in mass finishes on the Tour de  France this year when he stunned the rest of the field to win  the second stage yesterday.

Left in the front with three of his Columbia team mates  after a crash in the final turn of the 187 kms stage from Monaco  had split the bunch, the Briton was forced to an unexpectedly  long sprint in the last 500 metres.

It made his victory all the more impressive as second-placed  American Tyler Farrar and third-placed Romain Feillu of France  never looking in a position to challenge him.

Swiss Fabian Cancellara retained the overall leader’s yellow  jersey after finishing in the peloton.
Cavendish, the winner of four stages in 2008, praised his  team mates who had led and protected him in the last 20  kilometres to place him in ideal conditions for the finale.

“They’re superb, really intelligent guys and efficient too.  When you see the work of these eight riders riding for me, it’s  impressive,” he told reporters.

“I’m glad I could win it. There’s a lot of people involved  in a sprint like this.”
While Cavendish is already the most successful British  professional rider, he can now set his sights on Barry Hoban’s  British record of eight stage victories on the Tour.

SCORCHING HEAT
“I had two goals on this Tour, one was to go to the end of  the Tour and take as many wins along the way. But I don’t want  to look too far ahead,” he said.

The heat, with temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius, was  merciless in the peloton. “I cannot remember riding in such heat. It was like riding  in a hot bath,” said Cancellara.

The weather did not stop four riders launching the first  long breakaway in this Tour started on the third category climb  to La Turbie, after 13 kms.

Finn Jussi Veikkanen, Dutchman Stef Clement, Frenchmen Cyril  Dessel and Stephane Auge joined forces for 166 kms and held a  maximum lead of 5:20 with 100 kms to go.

In the last 40 kms, Cavendish’s team mate Mark Renshaw  seized control of the peloton to increase the pace and the gap  gradually diminished. The four were caught with nine kms to go.

American Lance Armstrong, back in the saddle after 3-1/2  years in retirement, remained 10th overall after riding in the  peloton all day.
“The goal was just to avoid trouble,” the seven-times Tour  champion told reporters.
Spaniard Alberto Contador, second overall at 18 seconds down  and the overwhelming race favourite, also took it easy.
“It was a quiet day,” he said. “Saxo Bank did the work, they  controlled the race, it was fine.”

Today’s third stage from Marseille to La Grande Motte could  be another tricky one, with strong winds forecast on the 196.5  kms along the Mediterranean coastline.