Cavendish leads in Coppi e Bartali

Manx cyclist on form in Italy

Mark Cavendish is stomping his authority in Italy as he leads the general classification in the Coppi e Bartali race in Italy.

The Deceuninck-Quick Step rider was second in the first of two stages, but took the lead after a team time trial.

The five-stage race got underway on Tuesday. (23 March)

Deceuninck-Quick Step's Joao Almeida leads the race overall by one second.

Cavendish's runner-up spot comes just two weeks after a second in the GP Monsere, in Belgium, which was his highest-placed finish since June 2018.

He just missed out on victory after crossing the line in a dramatic photo finish that saw Italy's Jakub Mareczko of Vini Zabu pip him to the post.