Manxman Mark Cavendish has become the first British rider ever to win two stages of the Giro d'Italia, an event second only to the Tour de France on the racing calendar.

Cavendish took the 120-mile 13th stage from Modena to Cittadella, defeating his great Italian sprint rival, Daniele Bennati, by two bike lengths. That was on top of his fourth stage win.

On Thursday Cavendish had lost a similar sprint stage by less than an inch to Benatti.

The manxman, who will be 23 on Wednesday, is likely to be competing in the Madison and the Scratch race for Great Britain at the Olympics.
He is only the third British rider, along with Robert Millar in 1987 and Vic Denson in 1966, to win any stage in the Giro.