British speedster Mark Cavendish won a windy and crash-marred fifth stage of the Tour de France in a mass sprint Wednesday, as Thor Hushovd of Norway kept the leader's yellow jersey. Defending champion Alberto Contador fell in one crash and RadioShack rider Janez Brajkovic quit the race after another during the 164.5-kilometer trek from Carhaix to Cap Frehel on the English Channel. Cavendish, one of the world's best sprinters, collected his 16th career Tour stage victory and his first this year by speeding past Philippe Gilbert of Belgium – who finished second – and Jose Joaquin Rojas in third. Gilbert succeeded in making him work hard in the sprint. The top standings didn't change because the vast majority of riders crossed in a pack right behind the sprinters. Hushovd kept his one-second lead over Cadel Evans of Australia in second. Frank Schleck of Luxembourg is third overall, 4 seconds back. Schleck's younger brother Andy – the Tour runner-up for the last two years – is 10th, 12 seconds behind. Contador, who lost time by getting caught up in a crash in Stage 1, is 39th overall, 1:42 behind Hushovd. Wednesday's stage, including a picturesque patch along rocky Brittany cliffs overlooking the Atlantic, was mostly marked by crashes that brought down some of the biggest names in the pack. Two riders pulled out, reducing the pack to 195. “It was very nervous, and because of that you get a lot of crashes, because there are 200 riders who want to be in front,” said Hushovd, who retained the coveted yellow jersey for a fourth straight day. Many riders were jostling to stay at the front – and ahead of possible group spills.
