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15:45 GMT, Friday, 23 May 2008 16:45 UK

Cavendish takes historic Giro win

Mark Cavendish

Mark Cavendish became the first British rider to win two stages at the Giro d'Italia after taking the honours in a sprint finish on day 13.

Cavendish finished the 177km (110 miles) route in four hours, 11 minutes and seven seconds to edge Daniele Bennati into second place.

"I promised my team mates I'd win and we did a perfect sprint," he said.

Meanwhile, Giovanni Visconti maintained his lead in the overall standings for the eighth day in a row.

Cavendish also won the fourth stage earlier this month.

The 23-year-old Briton was quick in gaining revenge on Bennati, after losing out to the Italian in a photo-finish - with just a 3cm gap between the two riders - after a hard-fought sprint in stage 12 on Thursday.

The Isle of Man rider had too much power and pure speed in the closing 200m as he left his rivals trailing and he even had time to check over his shoulder in the final few metres.

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"I have to say a massive thanks to Bennati," added Cavendish.

"He showed great sportsmanship by letting me through the gap. That meant we could fairly contest the sprint and show who was the fastest."

"I probably would have closed the gap in the same situation but I hope to pay him back some time in the future for his kindness."

Spain's Koldo Fernandez finished in third place, with German veteran Erik Zabel in fourth.

Cavendish is only the third British rider, along with Robert Millar in 1987 and Vin Denson in 1966, to win any stage in the Giro.

The 14th stage gets under way on Saturday with a 195km (121 miles) mountain stage from Verona to Alpe di Pampeago.


Stage 13 results:

1. Mark Cavendish (GB/THR) 4hr 11min 07sec
2. Daniele Bennati (Ita/LIQ) same time
3. Koldo Fernandez (Spa/EUS)
4. Erik Zabel (Ger/MRM)
5. Julian Dean (NZ/TSL)
6. Mirco Lorenzetto (Ita/LAM)
7. Alexandre Usov (Blr/A2R)
8. Nikolai Trussov (Rus/TCS)
9. Robbie McEwen (Aus/SIL)
10. Graeme Brown (Aus/PAN)

Overall standings:

1. Giovanni Visconti (Italy) 57 hours, 17 minutes, 6 seconds
2. Gabriele Bosisio (Italy) 5 minutes, 50 seconds behind
3. Alberto Contador (Spain) 6:59 behind
4. Andreas Kloden (Germany) 7:41
5. Vincenzo Nibali (Italy) 7:51
6. Marzio Bruseghin (Italy) 7:52
7. Paolo Savoldelli (Italy) 7:56
8. Danilo Di Luca (Italy) 8:20
9. Gustav Erik Larsson (Sweden) 8:31
10. Riccardo Ricco (Italy) 8:32.




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Related to this story:

Cavendish edged out of Giro stage (22 May 08 |  Cycling )
On Tour with Thomas (20 May 08 |  Cycling )
Visconti needs X-rays after crash (21 May 08 |  Cycling )
Bruseghin takes time trial stage (20 May 08 |  Cycling )
Bennati secures ninth Giro stage (18 May 08 |  Cycling )
Ricco sprints to second Giro win (17 May 08 |  Cycling )
Bosisio break yields Giro glory (16 May 08 |  Cycling )
Priamo grabs Giro stage victory (15 May 08 |  Cycling )
Snapped chain ends Millar hopes (14 May 08 |  Cycling )
Cavendish secures Giro stage win (13 May 08 |  Cycling )
Bennati wins third Giro stage (12 May 08 |  Cycling )
Ricco secures second Giro stage (11 May 08 |  Cycling )
Vandevelde wins first Giro stage (10 May 08 |  Cycling )

RELATED INTERNET LINKS:
Giro d'Italia (in Italian)
International Cycling Union
British Cycling
Cycling on the BBC
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