Cav warns rivals ahead of stage five

MONTPELLIER – After two days of sprint domination, Mark Cavendish is threatening to extend his Tour de France winning streak today’s fifth stage ending in Perpignan.

Cavendish claimed his second stage in as many days Monday with another unassailable drive for the finish line which took his career tally to six in three participations.After Tuesday’s team time trial, which could see a new race leader in the yellow jersey, Cavendish will turn his attention the 196.5 km fifth stage from Cap d’Agde to Perpignan.It remains to be seen if his Columbia team have enough left in their legs to get him into the best possible position for the crucial lead-out of the stage, which ends on a relatively short home straight of 380 metres.But unless teammate Tony Martin takes possession of the yellow jersey later Tuesday, it could be the last chance for Columbia, and Cavendish, to stand atop the podium as the race heads slowly towards the Pyrenees.In any case, Cavendish’s unrelentless hunt for stage wins does not look like abating.’Before the Tour we (Columbia) looked over the race and saw that for us there are around eight stages we could win,’ said Cavendish, who is also wearing the coveted green jersey for the points competition.Cavendish said after his victory at La Grande Motte on Monday the other sprinters’ teams would have to start working harder if they were to make their threat to his dominance real.’If the other teams want to ride like juniors they’ll get results like juniors,’ said the 24-year-old Manxman.Stage five begins on slightly undulating terrain before tackling two, relatively easy, category four climbs between the 110km and 116.5km mark.From then on it’s almost pancake flat on a long stretch of coastline from Leuscate-Plage to Argeles-sur-Mer, before the peloton switches inland through Elne and on to Perpignan.As on Monday’s stage, when Cavendish’s powerful Columbia team forced a split in the peloton which put Lance Armstrong within sight of the yellow jersey, the wind could play a leading role.As a result, the entire peloton will be vigilant. Breakaways are likely to go early, but with Cavendish’s seemingly still hungry for success they are likely not to make it all the way. – Nampa-AFP