The stunningly beautiful landscape between Sisteron and Bourg-les-Valence provided the special backdrop on today's 11th stage of the Tour de France where the peloton wound along sloshing rivers between steep mountain jaws in the Southeastern part of France in 35 degrees.

The last few days, Saxo Bank have been working diligently in the front of the pack in order to defend and protect Andy's position as the leading rider of the biggest bike race of the world but today, the workload was shared with the sprinter teams who eyed a rare chance of asserting themselves in the flat stage finish.

Anthony Geslin (FDjeux.com), Jose-Alberto Benitez (Footon) and the always ubiquitous Stephane Auge (Cofidis) launched an early attack in a more or less hopeless attempt to take the stage win and with 24 kilometers to go, the dream of lasting all the way was shattered.

After 150 kilometers in the front group the trio was wheeled back to anonymity in the bunch and Saxo Bank immediately went to the front of the pack to increase the pressure in the cross winds dropping numerous riders from the back before the sprinter teams took over the pacing of the pack.

In a furious tail wind sprint and nerve wrecking battle for position, Mark Cavendish (HTC-Columbia) managed to take his third stage victory in this year's Tour de France. It was his 13th Tour de France stage victory of his career.

Andy is still in the lead of the race. Tomorrow's hilly stage finishes uphill.