Mark Cavendish of Britain won the 18th stage of the Tour de France in a final dash on Friday as Alberto Contador kept holding the yellow jersey.

The 25-year-old Cavendish collected his fourth Tour stage win this year and 14th of his career in the flat 198-kilometer (123- mile) ride from Salies-de-Bearn to Bordeaux that was likely to favor sprinters.

Cavendish won by several bike lengths. Julian Dean of New Zealand was second, and Italy's Alessandro Petacchi was third.

HTC-Columbia's Mark Cavendish (C) of Britain crosses the finish line to win the 18th stage of the Tour de France cycling race from Salies-de-Bearn to Bordeaux, July 23, 2010.

With his third place, Petacchi swiped the green jersey awarded to the best sprinter from Hushovd, who finished 14th in the stage and gave up any hope of recovering it by the final stage Sunday on Paris' Champs-Elysees.

Cavendish's HTC Columbia team moved to the front of the pack in the last 20 kilometers, pressing the pace to reel in four breakaway riders who got out at the 11 kilometer mark and led nearly the whole day.

With just three kilometers to go, the fast-moving peloton swallowed up the last of those escapees, setting up the final bunch sprint.

Defending champion Contador of Spain held his eight-second lead over Andy Schleck of Luxembourg, a gap that is expected to widen in the crucial 52-kilometer (32.3-mile) time-trial from Bordeaux to Pauillac.

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