Cavendish celebrates the peak of his career

Team Columbia rider Mark Cavendish of Britain flashes a sign for his fifth victory on the podium after winning the 19th stage of the 96th Tour de France cycling race between Bourgoin-Jailleu and Aubenas, July 24, 2009.

AUBENAS, France (Reuters) - Mark Cavendish, who became the most successful Briton to take part in the Tour de France on Friday, described his 19th stage victory as the peak of his career.

"It was one of the hardest sprints I had to do. It made it very emotional at the finish," he said.

Cavendish's ninth Tour stage win followed his decision to force the pace from the bottom of the second category climb wit the help of his Columbia team mates.

"I told them, take me to the top and I will do my best in the sprint. It was really grim on the climb but I got over it," said Cavendish, who was escorted up the Col de l'Escrinet by Belgium's Maxime Monfort, American George Hincapie and German Tony Martin.

"To empty themselves the way they did the day before Mont Ventoux shows they have no egos and give everything to the team," he added.

Cavendish paid a special tribute to Hincapie, who helped him in spite of a painful collarbone injury.

"He's injured quite badly actually. He's been a professional for 16 years and he's quite resilient, he's a true professional. I never heard the guy complain, no matter how badly he is. It shows true class, true professionalism," he said.

Cavendish is now targeting more laurels in the final stage to Paris, but he agreed the points classification green jersey was now almost certainly out of reach and that Thor Hushovd amply deserved it.

The Norwegian broke away on his own in the hardest mountain stage of the Tour on Wednesday to collect vital points and secure an almost unassailable lead.

"After Thor's ride two days ago, no one deserves the green jersey better than him. Someone who fought for the jersey like that, I can't compete with him," he said.

Hushovd, winner of a stage in Barcelona, was also full of praise for his rival.

"Mark's very hard to beat and today he showed what a fighter he was by hanging there in the climb to top it up with a great sprint," he said.

The Norwegian leads the Briton by 25 points in the green jersey standings and their battle on the Champs-Elysees should provide the final excitement of the Tour on Sunday.

While Hushovd should make it to the podium as the green jersey winner, it will be hard to deny Cavendish the prestigious victory on the famous Parisian thoroughfare.

"When he sets himself a goal, you have to shoot him off the bike to stop him from reaching it," said his German team director Rolf Aldag.

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