Written by: Justin Davis (AFP)

MUR-de-bretagne, France, July 5, 2011 – Britain’s Mark Cavendish has pledged to make amends for his hit-and-miss Tour de France so far by claiming a 16th win on the race as quickly as he can.

“I think it’s going to take a very uneducated person to write me off this year,” said Cavendish after his fifth place finish on Monday’s first bunch sprint stage.

“I’ve got great form, the team’s got great form, it’s just a bit of bad luck.”

A 15-time stage winner in the past three years, Cavendish has come into his fifth Tour de France expected to continue dominating of rivals for the victories gained at the end of hectic bunch sprints.

Despite the likelihood of a bunch finish on Wednesday’s fifth stage — a 164.5 km ride from Carhaix to Cap Frehel — the Isle of Man rider could be called upon to show more versatility.

Much like Monday’s third stage, won by American Tyler Farrar, the finale to stage five could prove a challenge for the sprinters’ teams — like Cavendish’s HTC-Highroad.

Four kilometers from the finish the peloton will negotiate a small climb which, as on stage three, is likely to prompt one or two attacks from the front of the peloton.

With three kilometers still to race, there is still plenty of time for the sprinters to get their house in order on the slight downhill section which leads to the red flag signalling the final kilometer.

From there, the road rises 14 meters in 1km to the finish line. Although considered only a ‘false flat’, some sprinters prefer flatter terrain.

Cavendish’s Australian teammate Mark Renshaw, who is normally his last lead-out man before the final dash for the finish line, believes the race hasn’t seen the last of Cavendish yet.

The Manxman did not claim the first of his five stage wins last year until stage five, and the Australian said: “It’s starting to pan out a little bit like last year, and people might be starting to doubt us.

“But hopefully we can come back out and win five stages like Cav did last year.”

Before the finale, the teams intent on making sure victory isn’t decided by a bunch sprint will have a chance to play their cards when the peloton takes the coast roads for the final 70km.

On the way crosswinds are a near certainty as the peloton cuts through Yffiniac — the native village of France’s last champion, five-time winner Bernard Hinault.

“There is a risk of winds and eventually splits in the peloton,” warned the race’s director of competition, Jean-Francois Pescheux.