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Belgian rider Jasper Philipsen of Team Alpecin-Deceuninck celebrates at the finish line as stage winner during the seventh stage of the 110th Tour de France, in Bordeaux, France, July 7, 2023. /CFP
Belgian Jasper Philipsen denied Mark Cavendish a record-breaking victory on the Tour de France to claim his third stage win in this year's race on Friday, taking his fifth bunch sprint in succession since last year.
After 170km from Mont de Marsan, Philipsen was the fastest again in the final sprint, although Briton Cavendish almost caught the Alpecin-Deceuninck rider by surprise by launching his effort early, 250 meters from the line along the Garonne river.
The Briton, chasing a record-breaking 35th Tour de France individual win, was eventually overpowered by Philipsen and had to settle for what might remain the most frustrating runner-up spot in his career.
The 38-year-old Cavendish, back on the world's greatest race after a one-year hiatus, shares the record of stage wins with Belgian great Eddy Merckx, who took his 34 victories between 1969 and 1975.
Eritrea's Biniam Girmay finished third.
Defending champion Jonas Vingegaard of Denmark retained the overall leader's yellow jersey, 25 seconds ahead of second-placed Tadej Pogacar of Slovenia with Australian Jai Hindley in third spot, 1:34 off the pace.
"We can't be proud enough of the team," said Philipsen, who again benefited from Mathieu van der Poel's perfect lead-out.
"Without them it would have been impossible to win a third stage already. I'm proud of them. We worked together and that led to success.
"I was always on a good wheel and never had to make a big effort before I had to produce my sprint. If you had told me a week ago, I'd have told you that you're crazy. We will just continue to add others (stage wins)."
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Disinformation report hotline: 010-85061466