Cervélo's Thor Hushovd (NOR) crossed the 14th in Friday's 198km Salies-de-Béarn to Bordeaux and ceded the green jersey to Alessandro Petacchi (ITA).
 
Cervélo's Jeremy Hunt (GBR) and Brett Lancaster (AUS) gave Hushovd an excellent lead-out for the final sprint into Bordeaux, but Mark Cavendish (GBR) kicked to victory and Petacchi crossed the line third.
 
Petacchi now leads Hushovd with 213 points to 203 points with two stages to go in the 2010 Tour de France.
 
"It was a very hard sprint today. We went to the front too early. The headwind was strong and I couldn't finish off the sprint. I haven't been able to sprint very well this entire Tour and it continued today. It's over for me for the green jersey. That's life," Hushovd said. "I will try to make a good sprint on the Champs-Elysées. I am very satisfied with this Tour de France."
 
A four-man breakaway tore away early in the mostly flat stage that favored the sprint specialists. The last rider was neutralized in the closing kilometers to set up the bunch sprint. Cervélo put Hunt and Lancaster on the front to give Hushovd the best chance of defending his green jersey. "The team was OK. We were making a good lead-out. I said there is too much speed in Bordeaux and that Paris is better for power people like Thor. Sure, 14th place is a bit disappointing, but it is never over until you reach Paris. It looked good in the final kilometer, it was how we wanted to do it. Jeremy Hunt (GBR) was there, and also Brett Lancaster (AUS), the set-up for Thor looked pretty good. It's still close, but it's going to be very difficult for the green jersey. I can understand that he says it's over, but we have a time trial and Sunday is another race to go. I know he wants to win there. We will go full-gas on Sunday and see what we can do against a super-fast Cavendish and a fast Petacchi."
  
With the sprinters looking for the traditional bunch sprint into Bordeaux, the GC favorites cooled their heels after four difficult stages in the Pyrénées. Alberto Contador (SPA) retained the overall lead and Cervélo's Carlos Sastre (SPA) remained 21st overall at 25:50 back.
 
The 97th Tour continues Saturday with the 52km individual time trial from Bordeaux to Pauillac. The flat course should favor the specialists. Cervélo's Ignatas Konovalovas (LTU) and Brett Lancaster (AUS) will be aiming to finish off a strong Tour with a top-10 performance.