MARK Cavendish has won his first stage in the Giro d’Italia, claiming victory in stage 10 from Termoli to Teramo.
In a sprint finish, the Manx rider powered over the line ahead of Spain’s Francisco Ventoso and Italy’s Alessandro Petacchi.
“Winning in Italy is massive for me,” he said afterwards. “It’s where I took my first ever Grand Tour stage win.
“I was disappointed not to win in Parma because it’s one of my favourite races, really close to my heart.
“I suffered badly in the mountain stages, but I wanted to get through in order to keep winning here.”
HTC-Highroad hasn’t got its most experienced sprint team in action in Italy, but Cavendish praised his team mates for their commitment. “They all gave it 100% and I couldn’t ask for more from them,” he added.
This was Cavendish’s 65th win of his professional career and the third of the 2011 season after stage victories in the Tour of Oman and the Scheldeprijs. It was his sixth win in the Giro d’Italia.
