MARCEL Kittel won his fifth stage of this year’s Tour de France with victory on stage 11, as Britain’s Chris Froome retained the leader’s yellow jersey.
Poland’s Maciej Bodnar was caught in the final 300 metres in Pau, having led for the rest of the 203.5km route.
German Kittel surged past his rivals, with Dutchman Dylan Groenewegen second and Edvald Boasson Hagen third.
Froome leads by 18 seconds overall from Italy’s Fabio Aru and is 51 seconds ahead of Romain Bardet in third.
Britain’s Daniel McLay finished fifth in the stage, with compatriot Ben Swift in ninth.
“It’s perfect at the moment,” said Kittel. “The race (for the green jersey) is not over but I’ve used all my chances that I’ve got so far.”
‘I’m seeing sprints like Tetris’ – Kittel
Quick-Step rider Kittel was the firm favourite to win in Pau, having claimed his fourth stage in imperious fashion on Tuesday.
Once again the 29-year-old German had enough time to raise his arm aloft, signifying his five stage wins, as he coasted over the line, his rivals only able to draft in behind him.
Kittel’s teammates Jack Bauer, Philippe Gilbert and the particularly impressive Julien Vermote all did extended turns at the front of the peloton late on to reel in Bodnar and hold off rival sprint trains.
“When you’re on your top level as a sprinter, it’s like playing Tetris and you’re just trying to find the gaps,” said Kittel.
“I’ve not made a mistake and again I could just jump from wheel to wheel.
“It’s really nice to give the team a victory because my team all worked hard – they’re champions and they’re killing it for me.”
Kittel is now just one behind the six stages won in 2009 by Britain’s Mark Cavendish – who crashed out of this year’s race – and could surpass that tally, with three of the remaining stages potentially ending in a sprint finish.
Although riders in the breakaway will look to take victory on stages 16 and 19, both of which feature several categorised climbs, it is tough to see anyone beating Kittel on the final stage sprint down the Champs Elysees.
He also holds a likely insurmountable lead in the green jersey points competition, with a total of 335 so far, 133 ahead of Australia’s Michael Matthews. (BBC Sport)