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TOURS, France -- Marcel Kittel overtook Mark Cavendish at the line to win the 12th stage of the Tour de France on Thursday, while Chris Froome avoided a late crash to protect his big lead. Cavendish attacked first but Kittels late burst got him to the finish first by half a wheel to earn his second stage win in three days, and third of this race. "As we say in Germany, good things come in three," Kittel said. "It was a real sprint today, thats why Im so happy." German riders have won five stages so far -- with Tony Martin winning Wednesdays time trial and Andre Greipel also winning a sprint stage. Beating Cavendish for pure speed, a rare feat, will further boost Kittels confidence. "Its a big achievement for me, my team, and for German sprinters as well," Kittel said. It has been a nervy Tour so far and about 20 riders were caught in a crash near the end. Froomes Sky teammate, Edvald Boasson Hagen, broke his right shoulder blade and dropped out of the tour. Froome was close enough to "hear the crash" but just far ahead enough to avoid it. "Its always like that at the end before a sprint," Froome said. "Its scary for everyone." Froome still leads Alejandro Valverde by 3 minutes, 25 seconds and is 3:54 ahead of two-time former champion Alberto Contador. "At the moment Im trying to save as much energy as possible for Mont Ventoux at the end of the week and then the Alps next week," said Froome, who dominated the first big mountain stage of the race in the Pyrenees last Saturday. "Mont Ventoux will be the next really hard day for the general classification," he added. While Froome is firmly on track to become the second British rider to ever win the race -- Bradley Wiggins won it ahead of Froome last year -- countryman Cavendish has had a frustrating race. The Tours best sprinter two years ago, he looked well set to clinch his 25th career stage win as his Omega Pharma QuickStep teammate Gert Steegmans got him in a great position. Surprisingly, Cavendish did not have the legs to hold on. "I could jump onto his wheel and it worked out really well for us," Kittel said. "Im very proud of that victory. I showed today that I can beat the best sprinters." Cavendish did not look for excuses. "I can go back and look over it but he was just faster," he said. "(My teammates) delivered me at the right time. I was just beaten by a better guy." Peter Sagan finished third and holds a comfortable 96-point lead in his bid to retain the best sprinters green jersey. Cavendish was second, Greipel third and Kittel fourth. The peloton rolled through vineyards and alongside the Chinon forest on a 218-kilometre (135.5-mile) route from Fougeres to Tours in the Loire valley, a picturesque region dotted with imposing chateaux such as the spiral-towered Chateau dUsse, which dates from the 11th century, and the 16th century Chateau dAzay-le-Rideau, which rests on the water. Keen to keep their riders near the front of the main pack and limit the risk of crashes, Froomes Sky and Contadors Saxo-Tinkoff squads took turns pushing from the front. "That is the best position to be in because there are crashes everywhere," Froome said. "I did hear the crash behind me." Saxo-Tinkoff tried to pull away with about five kilometres (three miles) left, but Ian Stannard helped Froome catch them. Moments later, Norwegian rider Boasson Hagens tour ended when he was the worst affected in a pile-up of 20-odd riders who were sent flying backwards, upwards and sideways off their bikes. "Its a real shame for Edvald and a setback for the team," Sky manager Dave Brailsford said. "But ultimately were still confident that, with the riders weve got left, we can pull together and see the race through." Then, with the finish in sight, Froome survived a delicate moment when he appeared to be nudged by Tom Veelers. "I must have hit 10 guys on the run-in today," Froome said. 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SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- The 49ers are growing tired of answering questions about their lowest-ranked run defense that allowed 100-yard rushers in seven straight games, which had never been done before.We know what the problems are. We just need to fix them, 49ers linebacker Michael Wilhoite said.Fixing bad tackling and missed assignments wont get any easier Sunday in Arizona. San Francisco is tasked with slowing down the NFLs total yardage leader in running back David Johnson.The last time these team teams played, Johnson became the fourth consecutive running back to eclipse the century mark against the 49ers, running for 157 yards and two touchdowns in a 33-21 victory Oct. 6.Johnson, in his second season, has 1,112 yards from scrimmage through eight games, putting him on pace for more than 2,200. Thats been done by 13 running backs since 2000.I think hes got a unique presence, 49ers coach Chip Kelly said. You dont see a guy with that size that has that athletic ability.The Cardinals have gotten creative with their emerging star by utilizing him in the passing game. Hes second on the team with 35 receptions and 407 yards receiving, behind only Larry Fitzgerald.A lot of different teams throw the ball to their running back, but this guys actually a wide receiver also, 49ers linebacker Eli Harold said. Most guys are a decoy. But they actually have plays designed to get him the ball, so you got to account where he is all the time.Johnson, a third-round pick in 2015, initially went to Northern Iowa as a receiver before adding 20 pounds of muscle to make the transition to running back. But he didnt loose the speed or route-running chops that helped him become a premier dual threat.ddddddddddddHe can run a route tree as a receiver out there, said Kelly. I think thats what makes him such a unique guy to defend and probably one of the most versatile backs that well face.Johnson and the Cardinals (3-4-1) are coming off their bye, while the 49ers (1-7) took their seventh straight loss, 41-23 to the Saints last weekend.Despite the 49ers pace toward becoming the fourth team since the merger to allow more than 3,000 yards rushing, Arizona coach Bruce Arians thinks San Francisco is making small improvements.The 49ers struggles defending the run can be traced back to losing four-time All-Pro NaVorro Bowman to a torn Achilles tendon in Week 4.When you lose leaders, its very hard. The guys that rally the huddle, Arians said. But I still think, I see them getting better. Its a play here and a play there rather than a bunch of plays.By the end of the season, theyre going to be somebody to reckon with.Game notes 49ers WR Torrey Smith (back) returned to practice Wednesday after missing Tuesdays session . . . Kelly said DT Arik Armstead is expected to have surgery to repair his left shoulder within the week. Armstead was placed on injured reserve Tuesday . . . RB Carlos Hyde continues to practice in a non-contact jersey after sustaining a shoulder injury Oct. 16. He hasnt appeared in a game since.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '