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TOUR DE FRANCE: Hesjedal teammate misses stage 15 win by a wheel's length

TOUR DE FRANCE: Hesjedal teammate misses stage 15 win by a wheel's length
2011 Tour de France
Ryder Hesjedal adjusts his footing during stage 15. Having his glasses in the colours of the Canadian flag help make Hesjedal identifiable when his Tour de France bib

Team Garmin-Cervelo and the Tour de France cyclists are enjoying a well-deserved rest on Monday after a compelling week of racing through the mountains of France.

The fruit of Ryder Hesjedal's labour on Sunday, however, was in stage-winner Mark Cavendish's (U.K.) basket. The latter cyclist of team HTC-Highroad showed his dominance as the world's top sprinter in a straightaway by shooting out of the peloton at the end of the Tour de France's stage 15.

Hesjedal's Garmin-Cervelo teammate Tyler Farrar (U.S.) crossed the finish line just a half-metre back of Cavendish after Hesjedal and teammates laboured through the demanding hills of the 192.5-kilometres long stretch from Limoux to Montpellier.

Hesjedal ended the day 127th though he was just 95 seconds back of Farrar, having pulled up on the final ascent.

Victoria's man on the tour is a steady 32nd overall, 25 minutes and 18 seconds back of yellow jersey holder Thomas Voeckler (France). Garmin-Cervelo have worked hard to keep 32-year-old tour rookie Tom Danielson (U.S.) in ninth position overall, five minutes and 26 seconds back.

It's been an incredibly successful run for the Garmin-Cervelo so far with three stage wins, two by Thor Hushovd and one by Farrar.

Tuesday's stage 16 from Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux to Gap is a rigorous 162.5km ascent, nearly all uphill.