Cavendish wins 18th leg of Tour, but Contador retains yellow

AP - Mark Cavendish of Britain won the 18th stage of the Tour de France in a bunch sprint on Thursday, while Alberto Contador retained the overall lead.

The 25-year-old Cavendish collected his fourth Tour stage win this year and 14th of his career after a flat 198-kilometer (123-mile) ride from Salies-de-Bearn to Bordeaux.

Cavendish made it look easy: Within the last several hundred meters, he swerved left to get around two riders including Norwegian sprint star Thor Hushovd, then moved back right to cross all alone.

At the finish, Cavendish looked back over his shoulder, almost seeming to taunt his rivals, winning by several bike lengths. Julian Dean of New Zealand was second, and Italy’s Alessandro Petacchi was third.

Defending champion Contador of Spain held his eight-second lead over Andy Schleck of Luxembourg - a gap that is expected to widen in the crucial time-trial stage on Saturday.

The race ends in Paris on Sunday.