Cavendish wins crash-marred 5th Tour stage

Mark Cavendish of Britain celebrates winning the fifth stage of the Tour de France cycling race Wednesday.

CAP FREHEL, France — Mark Cavendish of Britain won a windy and crash-marred fifth stage of the Tour de France after a mass sprint on Wednesday, while Thor Hushovd of Norway kept the overall race lead.

Three-time Tour champion Alberto Contador fell in one crash and RadioShack rider Janez Brajkovic quit the race after another in the 102-mile trek from Carhaix to Cap Frehel on Wednesday.

Cavendish, one of the world's best sprinters, collected his 16th career Tour stage victory and first this year by speeding past Philippe Gilbert of Belgium, in second, and Jose Joaquin Rojas in third.

The top standings didn't change because the vast majority of riders crossed in the pack right behind the sprinters. Hushovd holds a one-second lead over Cadel Evans of Australia in second, and Frank Schleck of Luxembourg is third overall, 4 seconds back.