MONTPELLIER, France — British sprinting star Mark Cavendish overcame high wind and "bashing" in the pack to collect his fourth stage victory Sunday at this year's Tour de France, as French rider Thomas Voeckler earned the race leader's yellow jersey for a sixth straight day.
Victory in the 15th stage was a 19th win on the Tour for Cavendish, who clocked 4 hours, 20 minutes, 24 seconds. Tyler Farrar of the United States was second, and Alessandro Petacchi of Italy was third, both in the same time as Cavendish.
The mostly flat, 120-mile route through vineyards from Limoux to Montpellier was expected to favor sprinters, giving them a chance to shine again after three days of tough climbs in the Pyrenees.
"I had a lot of trouble in the mountains. It was difficult," the 26-year-old Cavendish said. "Today, it was a difficult, technical finish — there was wind on both sides and lot of bashing."
The breezy conditions reminded Cavendish of his native Isle of Man.
"The wind today is the way it always is at home," he said. The Manxman is now three career stage wins behind Lance Armstrong — who is fifth with 22. Belgium's Eddy Merckx holds the record with 34.
Voeckler, a 32-year-old rider with the Europcar squad, kept the overall lead that he first took in a crash-marred Stage 9 and surprisingly held through the mountains.
"I am happy it was flat," he said. "It was dangerous near the end, we knew that with a finish in town, you have to be really careful, plus the fact after two weeks, there's the fatigue factor."
The main contenders also played it safe on the wind-swept ride toward the Mediterranean and finished in the pack right behind the sprinters. Frank Schleck of Luxembourg remains second overall, 1:49 behind, while two-time Tour runner-up Cadel Evans is third, 2:06 back. Defending champion Alberto Contador is seventh, 4 minutes back.
Today is the second and final rest day before cyclists head into the foothills of the Alps for Stage 16 on Tuesday, a 101-mile ride from Saint-Paul-Trois-Chateaux to Gap. The Tour ends July 24 in Paris.