Cavendish races to 3rd Tour of California stage victory (The Associated Press)

Britain’s Mark Cavendish raced his third Tour of California stage victory and Latvia’s Tom Skujins retained the overall lead Thursday in the rainy fifth stage. Cavendish, the Etixx-Quick Step rider who won the first two stages, powered to the front in the final 200 yards to win the 95.7-mile leg from Santa Barbara to Santa Clarita in 3 hours, 51 minutes, 37 seconds. Cavendish waited for Australian teammate Mark Renshaw to get to the front of the field. ”I had Mark Renshaw at the end, and as always he was cool and calm, but we had to dig deep,” Cavendish said.