Cavendish relegated for this switch in sprint at Tour de France | Video

There was no doubt about the winner today as Biniam Girmay made it three victories at the Tour, with Mark Cavendish an Arnaud Demare both relegated behind him (Photo: Billy Ceusters-ASO)

Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty) has taken his third stage win at the Tour de France today in a controversial finish to stage 12 into Villeneuve-sur-Lot.

Though Arnaud Démare (Arkéa-B&B Hotels) and Mark Cavendish (Astana Qazaqstan) crossed the line in 3rd and 5th places respectively, they were relegated to the back of the group for the manner of their sprint.

Démare move to his right an almost ran Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) into the barriers, though the Belgian was still a very close 2nd on the stage. And Cavendish darted very sharply to his left, diving between Démare's lead-out man, Dan McLay, as he drifted backwards, and sprint rival Bryan Coquard (Cofidis).

Cavendish's move was perhaps the most notable given just how sharply he moved, though Démare may have cost Van Aert the stage win, as he arguably would have sprinted in a straighter, thus faster, manner had he not almost crashed.

Sam Bennett (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) was 12th in the sprint finish while Ben Healy (EF Education EasyPost) finished in 46th, also in the bunch.

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