Tour de France 2013 Stage 12 Live Video Highlights, Results: Marcel Kittel Wins His Third Stage Over Mark Cavendish In Photo Finish

Germany's Marcel Kittel beat out Mark Cavendish in a photo finish to take Stage 12 of the Tour de France, while Chris Froome played it safe, staying in the main pack to preserve his huge lead over the field to retain the yellow jersey.

Kittel's victory gives him three stage wins in this year's centennial Tour de France, while depriving Cavendish of winning his 25th career stage win at the Tour de France to move into third tied with Andre Leducq on the all-time list.

"He was just simply better. I tweeted the other day I think he's the next big thing," said Cavendish. "I think he's the next superstar in sprinting and he showed it. He's won three stages now and that's not easy. I can tell you that from experience."

Cavendish has had a frustrating 48-hour period, losing by half a wheel length a day after having urine thrown in his face during Stage 11 of the event on Wednesday.

"I didn't see it happen, but you had only to smell his jersey. Mark is sad, you might have expected him to be angry, but he's just sad," said Cavendish's team manager Patrick Lefevere. "I cannot blame anyone. There are 100,000 or 200,000 people on the road, and one person decided to do this."

Despite the disrespect from a section of fans, Cavendish does not feel like he is in personal danger and will continue competing in the event.

"It wasn't nice at the time. It is the Tour de France. Anything can happen," said Cavendish to the BBC. "The beauty of cycling is that you can get so close to the spectators. The majority of fans are brilliant." 

Team Sky's Chris Froome maintained his overall lead of three minutes 25 seconds over Alejandro Valverde and stayed ahead of two-time Tour winner Alberto Contador, by 3:54. Froome managed to avoid a 20-rider crash near the end of the finish line, that caught German sprinter Andre Greipel, with some riders stuck under their competitor's bikes, wheels, and frames jutted out at different angles.

Friday's action, the last day for sprinters to take advantage before heading into Paris, runs through Saint-Amand-Montrond, with the race heading in the geographic center of France.