MARK CAVENDISH won the 184.5km stage 11 between Sisteron and Bourg-les-Valence of Tour de France amid controversy of head-butting by team mate Mark Renshaw.
Renshaw used his head to shove Garmin's Julian Dean out the way creating space for Cavendish to attack the line and win. Andy Schleck retained the overall lead through the haute Alps.
Last five km of the stage 11 was full of life as Lampre and HTC jostled for position at the front for their sprinters to attack in the final 300m.
Renshaw was involved in a tussle with Dean in the final km as the Garmin rider attempted to create an ideal line for team-mate and specialist sprinter Tyler Farrar to attack.
Dean's presence pushed Renshaw closer to the barriers on the left, leaving little space for Cavendish, sat on the back of his team-mate's wheel, to respond in the final 500m.
"It was hard to get organized, but we were alright," said an exhausted Cavendish after his 13th Tour stage win in three years, overtaking Erik Zabel's, Mario Cipollini's and Robbie McEwen's tally of 12 career stage wins.
"I saw Julian fighting with Mark, I was behind and I was boxed in. I usually go around 200m - 250m max - but I had to go 375m-400m so it was a long finish by my standards. "
Cavendish is fourth in the sprinters' standings with 132 points, 29 behind leader Petacchi, with Hushovd in second and McEwen in third.
Stage 11 results:
1. Mark Cavendish (GB/HTC Columbia) 4h 42m 29s
2. Alessandro Petacchi (Ita/Garmin) same time
3. Tyler Farrar (Bel/QST) same time
4. Jose Joaquin Rojas (Spa/Caisse d'Epargne) same time
5. Robbie McEwen (Aus/Katusha) same time
Overall Standings:
1. Andy Schleck (Lux/Saxo Bank) 53h 43m 25s
2. Alberto Contador (Esp/Astana) +41"
3. Samuel Sanchez (Esp/Euskatel) +2'45"
4. Denis Menchov (Rus/Rabobank) +2'58"
5. Jurgen van den Broeck (Bel/Omega Pharma-Lotto) +3'31"
6. Levi Leipheimer (US/RadioShack) +3'59"
7. Robert Gesnik (Ned/Rabobank) +4'22"
8. Luis Leon Sanchez (Spa/Caisse d'Epargne) +4'41"
9. Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver (Spa/Katusha) +5'08"
10. Ivan Basso (Ita/Liquigas) +5'09"
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