La Grande-Motte, France - The British rocket, Mark Cavendish, won Monday's third stage of the 2009 Tour de France, as seven-time champion Lance Armstrong put himself in the thick of yet another title chase. Cavendish took advantage of a powerful acceleration by his Team Columbia about 30km from the end of the stage, which left behind most of his rivals, and easily beat Norwegian Thor Hushovd to the finish line. Frenchman Cyril Lemoine finished third.
Armstrong, who returned to the Tour after an absence of four years, was also part of that breakaway group of 27 riders and finished 41 seconds ahead of all his Tour title rivals, including Astana teammate Alberto Contador and Australia's Cadel Evans.
The 31-year-old Texas native is now third in the standings, 40 seconds behind the leader, Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland, who was also in the leader group.
If Astana wins Wednesday's team time trial in Montpellier by more than 40 seconds over Cancellara's Saxo Bank team, Armstrong will take over the race lead and make himself a favourite for yet another championship.
