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Your support makes all the difference.Cavendish records 21st stage win ahead of Greipel
Mark Cavendish took the 21st Tour stage win of his career yesterday in Tournai. The British world champion, who beat Lotto's German rider André Greipel by just half a wheel, showed that he can win without as many support riders as he is used to.
Team Sky are more focused this year on Bradley Wiggins' bid to win the Tour so Cavendish had fewer support riders than he usually does.
"I've never been so relaxed before the start of a Tour stage," he said. "Normally I have so much pressure, because with dedicated riders for me, that means I should win most of the time."
"If you've just got one or two riders as support, in the Tour de France where you're weaving between sprinters and general classification riders, it is more hassle than it's worth. [Team-mates] Bernie Eisel and Edvald Boasson were always there in case something happened, but five kilometres from the finish I said that I would go for it alone, give it a shot."
Cavendish's 21 stage wins makes him the fifth most prolific winner of all time, one behind Lance Armstrong. MORE
Casillas warns of next generation
Spain's captain Iker Casillas has warned that the world and European champions "have a great Under-21s" to carry on their winning run. Cesc Fabregas added that the fact he, Jordi Alba, Gerard Pique and Sergio Busquets are between 23 and 25 is a "great thing". MORE
Pearce defends Beckham stance
Team GB coach Stuart Pearce said he had selected his squad "solely on football ability" and that he would have quit if he had been told to choose David Beckham. But he said the 37-year-old could yet make the four-man stand-by list in case of injuries. MORE
Murray ahead but facing a busy time
Andy Murray will resume his fourth-round match against Marin Cilic today after going ahead 7-5, 3-1 before rain interrupted. But if he makes tomorrow's quarter-finals, against David Ferrer or Juan Martin Del Potro, he will have to play three days in a row. MORE
Federer beats pain and Malisse to win
Roger Federer overcame a back injury to beat Xavier Malisse 7-6, 6-1, 4-6, 6-3. "It was a bit of a shock at the start of the first set," the Swiss said. "I played on it for three or four games then asked for the doctor and decided to have treatment inside." MORE
Australia admire England 'blueprint'
Australia's coach, Mickey Arthur, says his team will follow England's lead in one-day cricket after losing the first two ODIs: "England are playing a very good brand of cricket. They have a blueprint and it's one we'll probably need to follow." MORE
Van Commenee ready for appeals
Charles van Commenee is preparing to announce the British track-and-field team for the London Olympics. "I expect a heap of appeals because people are desperate," he said. The women's 800m is expected to be a contentious event. MORE
Sharapova out and will lose No 1 spot
World No 1 Maria Sharapova lost to Sabine Lisicki yesterday. "It's revenge, for all three times she's beaten me," said Lisicki after her 6-4, 6-3 victory. Sharapova will now lose top ranking to either Victoria Azarenka or Agnieszka Radwanska. MORE
'Sluggish' Serena rallies to victory
Serena Williams reached the quarter-finals, beating Yaroslava Shvedova 6-1, 2-6, 7-5 despite a poor performance. "I just felt like I was sluggish out there, just pulling myself together mentally," she said. "But I feel I can do a lot better." MORE
Opinion: James Lawton
The claim for Spain's greatness have gone too high. Their progress was hazardous and they still cannot match Pele's Brazil of 1970, a team of stunning invention. MORE
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