Britain's Mark Cavendish claimed his second successive stage victory in the Tour of Spain on Friday with a sprint
finish while Spain's Igor Anton retained the overall leader's red jersey. The 25-year-old HTC-Columbia rider edged his great rival, Norway's Thor Hushovd of Cervelo TestTeam, in a mass sprint finish at the end of the 196-kilometer run from Rincon de Soto to Burgos to take the 13th stage Rincon de Soto to Burgos.

Cavendish completed the stage in four hours, 50 minutes and 18 seconds. The Isle of Man rider, who many consider the best sprinter in the world, also powered to victory in Thursday's 12th stage - a win that enabled him to claim individual stage wins in all three of cycling's major Tours.

"It's an incredible situation for me to be in and I'm so proud to be part of this team," he said after winning the stage. "Every rider here in my team is passionate about the sport, they want to win, they're not just after money for what they do, they actually care about it, love the sport, they know the history, they want to work together to cross the line first."

He said said HTC-Columbia teammate Matt Goss, who led the sprinter out for a second day running, played a major part in his stage victory.
 
"Matt was going so fast, I was struggling to stay on his wheel at times. He divebombed down the side of the bunch and got me into the perfect position," he said.
 
"Normally I'd go with 250 meters to go, but I had to hold it until 170 meters this time. Hopefully he'll get a stage win as well before the race ends."
 
Anton of the Euskatel team retained the red leader's jersey with a 45 second advantage over Italy's Vincenzo Nibali of Liquigas-Doimo at the head of the standings.
 
"Every day is important and you have to protect the jersey. As for the three mountain stages that are coming up, you have to take it day by day," he said. "If I have strength I will try to put more distance between me and my rivals but it is not going to be easy," he added.
 
The Tour of Spain continues on Saturday with a 178-kilometer run from Burgos to Pena Cabarga, the first of three mountainous stages before an individual time trial in the northern town Penafiel on Tuesday.
 
The 21-stage Tour of Spain, the third of the Grand Tours after the Giro d'Italia and Tour de France, wraps up in Madrid on September 19.



Stage 13 Results:
Rincón de Soto - Burgos
1. Mark Cavendish (IDM/HTC-Columbia) in 4 hours 50 minutes 18 seconds
    (average: 40,5 km/h)
2. Thor Hushovd (NOR/Cervelo TestTeam) at same time
3. Daniele Bennati (ITA/Liquigas-Doimo) at s.t.
4. Yauheni Hutarovich (BLR/Francais des Jeux)  at s.t.
5. Manuel Cardoso (POR/Footon-Servetto) at s.t.
6. Tyler Farrar (USA/Garmin-Transitions)  at s.t.
7. Denis Galimzyanov (RUS/Katusha)   at s.t.
8. Koldo Fernandez (ESP/Euskatel-Euskadi)  at s.t.
9. Theo Bos (NED/Cervelo TestTeam)  at s.t.
10. Johnnie Walker (AUS/Footon-Servetto) at s.t.



Overall Standings after Stage 13:
1. Igor Anton (ESP/Euskatel-Euskadi) in 56 hours 28 minutes 03 seconds
2. Vincenzo Nibali (ITA/Liquigas-Doimo) at 0:45
3. Xavier Tondo (ESP/Cervelo TestTeam) at 1:04
4. Joaquin Rodriguez (ESP/Katusha) at 1:17
5. Ezequiel Mosquera Miguez (ESP/Xacobeo Galicia) at 1:29
6. Marzio Bruseghin (ITA/Caisse d'Epargne) at 1:57
7. Rubén Plaza (ESP/Caisse d'Epargne)  at 2:07
8. Rigoberto Uran (COL/Caisse d'Epargne) at 2:13
9. Nicolas Roche (EIR/Ag2r-La Mondiale) at 2:30
10. Frank Schleck (LUX/Saxo Bank) at same time