Cavendish surprised by fourth stage win

A series of small but challenging climbs late on yesterday’s stage of the 2012 Giro d’Italia could not stop Britain’s Mark Cavendish taking his fourth stage win and second in two days.

Italy’s Vincenzo Nibali remained overall leader but it was sprinter Cavendish who stole the show again after compatriot and pre-race favourite Bradley Wiggins failed to start the 254 kilometre stage, the longest in this year’s Giro.

In a bunch sprint finish Cavendish outgunned Giacomo Nizzolo and Luka Mezgec.

After clinching his 40th Grand Tour stage win and 101st of his career, Cavendish told reporters he had not expected to take the victory on a course with such a difficult finale.

“It’s a bit of a bonus, an extra trophy, I don’t know how I’m going to recover before the mountains,” a visibly exhausted Cavendish said.