Mark Cavendish stormed to his 24th career Tour de France victory with a trademark sprint finish at the fifth stage Cagnes-Sur-Mer to Marseille.
The British champion has been struggling with bronchitis but he edged sprint rivals Norway's Edvald Boasson Hagen and Slovakian Peter Sagan as a large pile caused chaos in the final dash for the line.
"It's been a little frustrating but normally I don't win until about the fifth stage anyway," said Cavendish.
"I'm super happy, there was a little bit of pressure building up but it's off now, or, some of it is."
His Omega Pharma-Quick Step team manager Patrick Lefevere praised his team's support of their star rider.
"We had targeted this stage," he said.
"A lot of good sprinters won in Marseille and Mark, who loves the history of cycling, wanted to have his name associated with Marseille."
Simon Gerrans retained the leader's yellow jersey with British overall hope Chris Froome still well placed.
© Sportsbeat 2013