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. Armstrong leads Contador by 19 seconds, with Evans another 5 seconds back.
"It was a good day for the race, lots of surprises," Armstrong told France 2 television after the stage. "I gained important seconds on my rivals."
Asked if his rivalry with Contador would create tensions within the team, Armstrong said, "I don't agree that there's only one leader on the team. I have won the Tour seven times. I think that should be respected."
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 leader's yellow jersey and make himself the favourite for yet another championship.
"That would be nice," Armstrong said. "But my goal from the beginning was to wear the yellow jersey in Paris," where the race ends on July 26.
"I wouldn't count me out," Armstrong cautioned his rivals.
The winner's time for the 196.5km course from Marseille to the sea resort of La Grande-Motte was 5 hr 1 min 24 sec, a leisurely average speed of 39.12 kph.
Cavendish's young German Team Columbia colleague Tony Martin now sits in second place in the standings, 33 seconds behind Cancellara.
Tuesday's 39km team trial in and around the city of Montpellier is certain to scramble the standings again, and could result in a familiar face, Armstrong's, occupying a familiar place, first place in the Tour de France.
