The British cyclist Mark Cavendish has won his third stage on the 2009 Tour de France, a 195-kms trek ridden at a leisurely pace in an implicit protest by the riders at a radio-ban by organisers.
It was the seventh stage won on the Tour by the Briton, who is now one victory short of the British record held by Barry Hoban since 1975.
The New Zealanders Hayden Roulston and Julian Dean played a part in the outcome as they helped their respective sprinters Thor Hushovd and Tyler Farrar fill the minor placings.
Italy's Rinaldo Nocentini retained the overall leader's yellow jersey.
After several meetings on the rest day in Limoges, teams had reluctantly accepted to start the stage without earpieces or equipment allowing riders to communicate with their team cars.
