by Our Sports Desk

MARK CAVENDISH sprinted to his first Tour de France victory in almost two years on stage seven to Fougeres yesterday.

“Cav is back,” declared the French television commentators after the Manx rider burst to victory on the 190.5km route from Livarot after two near-misses in this year’s race.

Many hoped that Cavendish’s 26th stage win would have come in Harrogate, his mother’s hometown, on the opening stage of the 2014 Tour, but he crashed out.

His Etixx-QuickStep squad floundered in the finishing straight last Sunday in Zeeland and on Wednesday in Amiens the he came third.

The pressure was increasing on Cavendish, who is out of contract with Belgian squad Etixx-QuickStep at the end of the year, as yesterday was one of the final opportunities for the pure sprinters, given the challenging nature of the route.

But the 30-year-old delivered his first win since the 2013 Tour to move two behind Bernard Hinault’s tally of stage wins.

The Frenchman has 28, second only to Eddy Merckx’s record 34.

Chris Froome began the day in his Team Sky kit, leaving the maillot jaune empty after Tony Martin’s Tour-ending crash on Thursday.

He was 12 seconds behind Martin after the sixth stage, but Martin’s withdrawal gave the Briton the race lead.

Prior to the stage, Team Sky leader Froome said: “Out of respect for Tony I would never have worn it in any case.

“That’s not the way to get the yellow jersey, due to someone else’s misfortunes, but Tony finished yesterday.

“I was second on the GC (general classification) so there was no way to wear it.”

Daniel Teklehaimanot (MTN-Qhubeka) consolidated his lead in the King of the Mountains competition as part of the day’s five-man breakaway.

The last remnants of the escape were swept up 12km from the finish and Martin would normally come into prominence, dragging along the peloton.

Asked the difference between winning now and not earlier in the week, Cavendish said: “I just waited a little longer. I was more patient, so I could use my speed at the end there.”

It is the third win for Etixx-QuickStep on the Tour.

“I’ve waited a week for this win personally,” Cavendish said.

“It’s just me that’s let them down. It would’ve been easy for them to save themselves for the other days.

“I’m super-happy. It’s a shame Tony’s not here. I dedicate the win to him.”