Cavendish secures 18th stage win at Tour

Lavaur, France (dpa) - Briton Mark Cavendish on Wednesday secured his 18th Tour de France stage win of his career when he beat German Andre Greipel into second place in a sprint finish.

It was the third stage win for the 26-year-old HTC-Highroad sprinter, who said at the end of the 167.5 kilometre-long stage that he pushed up the pace at the end.

"That is my strength and the others can't really do much then."

Much of the stage was run in rainy conditions.

Third place went to American Tyler Farrar.

French cyclist Thomas Voeckler continues to hold the leader's yellow jersey.