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Hat-trick of stages for Cavendish

Author: Lynda Collins
Date: 16/07/2009

Mark Cavendish secured a hat-trick of stage wins in the Tour de France after sprinting to victory on the road between Limoges and Issoudun.

The Briton finished comfortably ahead of main sprint rival Thor Hushovd in the tenth stage of the event in which he is emerging as one of the stars.

The team Columbia rider added stage ten to his previous success in stages two and three despite the day being dominated by French riders.

Benoit Vaugrenard, Thierry Hupond and Samuel Dumoulin were part of a four-man breakaway which occurred soon after the race left Limoges.

But despite being cheered on by the home fans on Bastille Day, the French trio were caught just two kilometers from the line before the peloton prepared for a sprint finish.

But despite beating Hushovd to the line, the Norwegian has retained the green jersey by six points from Cavendish.

Elsewhere, Italy's Rinaldo Nocentini kept hold of the leader's yellow jersey after finishing in the pack alongside main rivals Lance Armstrong and online betting favourite Alberto Contador from the Astana team.

Can Lance Armstrong win the Tour de France for a record eighth time? - Latest Cycling Betting

In cricket, Sri Lanka wrapped up a comfortable seven-wicket victory over Pakistan in the second Test in Colombo.

The home side needed just three days to complete the win after bowling Pakistan out for 90 runs in their first innings.

Having been set a target of 171 runs to win, Sri Lanka coasted home inside 32 overs to level the series at 1-1.

Seamer Nuwan Kulasekara was the man of the match after ending with figures of 8-58.

In domestic action, the Pro40 match between Warwickshire and Middlesex at Edgbaston was abandoned due to rain.

Just two overs were bowled before heavy downpours forced the umpires to call the match off.

Elsewhere, Gloucestershire trail by 337 runs in their County Championship Division Two game against Derbyshire.

Gloucestershire reached 148-4 in their second innings at Cheltenham before stumps on day three of the four-day game.

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