Cavendish angered as sprint clash leads to points forfeiture

Farrar claimed the United States’ first Independence Day Tour stage win on the 198km route from Olonne-sur-Mer to Redon ahead of Feillu (Vacansoleil) and Jose Joaquin Rojas (Movistar), who was third.

Farrar became the 12th Tour stage winner from the USA but the first to triumph on July 4.

Cavendish (HTC-Highroad) – stripped of 10 points gained in yesterday’s intermediate sprint for clashing with Thor Hushovd, with the yellow jersey rider also punished – was fifth and later complained of being impeded by Feillu on the final corner.

The 26-year-old from the Isle of Man, who has 15 Tour stage successes to his credit, said: “I was fighting with Rojas into the last corner and kamikaze Feillu came flying in.

“I thought I was going to crash. I thought I was coming down. I was 40 metres behind coming out of the last corner with no speed whatsoever. I went full gas. I gained 40m and finished with the front four and I gained points – it just shows my form.”

Cavendish claimed 22 points in the finale, but his hopes of claiming a first points classification green jersey were hit when he was disqualified for his clash with Hushovd at the day’s intermediate sprint.

After the day’s five-man breakaway had taken the first points, Cavendish led the peloton across the line to claim 10 points.

However, Hushovd (Garmin-Cervelo) impeded the Briton, who responded by motioning his head and both were docked points.

He later suggested the reasons for his disqualification were “personal”, an accusation which could yet land him in trouble.

The Manxman wrote on Twitter: “Saw other riders in final (run-in) of today on TV and believe decisions are personal.”

After three stages, Cavendish lies ninth in the points classification, 38 points behind leader Rojas.

The overall rankings were unchanged, with Hushovd retaining the race leader’s maillot jaune ahead of team-mate David Millar, with Cadel Evans (BMC Racing) one second behind in third and Team Sky’s Geraint Thomas four seconds behind in fourth.

Thomas retained the white jersey for best young rider, with Team Sky leader Bradley Wiggins sitting 10th overall.

Tour favourites Andy Schleck (Leopard Trek) and Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank-SunGard) remain four seconds and one minute 42 seconds behind, respectively.

Rotherham’s Ben Swift placed 66th on the stage and is 23rd overall.

Today’s 172.5km fourth stage goes from Lorient to Mur-de-Bretagne.