It was so close yet so far for Manx cyclist Mark Cavendish in the final stage of the Tour de France yesterday.


The Manx Missile was aiming for his fifth win in a row on the Champs Elysees in Paris but found himself ending up in third place.


Marcel Kittel edged him out by a wheel length, and Andre Greipel finished in second in a hotly-contested sprint to the line.


It meant Cavendish missed out on a chance to claim his 26th stage win and become the third most successful Tour rider outright in terms of stages won.


Meanwhile, Peter Kennaugh crossed the finish line hand in hand with the rest of his Team Sky colleagues as they celebrated Chris Froome's confirmation as winner of Le Tour.