Cavendish 18th in classic

Mark Cavendish finished 18th in yesterday’s Ghent-Wevelgem one-day classic – the event shortened by 45km due to a snowstorm sweeping through Belgium.

Peter Sagan struck in Ghent-Wevelgem to win his first one-day event.

He fired clear from an escape group with two kilometres remaining.

Cavendish, André Greipel and other sprinters were left behind and with his Omega Pharma-QuickStep teammate Tom Boonen having crashed out to and Vandenbergh up the road, reinforcements for the Manx Missile were sorely needed.