Cycling: Cavendish's memorable tour continues with stage win

Manx fastman Mark Cavendish comfortably outpowered the opposition for the third Tour of Italy stage win of his career in Milan yesterday. Cavendish's win completed a third day of domination for his Columbia-Highroad squad, already victorious on Friday's and Saturday's stages through the Briton's team-mates Edvald Boasson Hagen and Kanstantin Siutsou.

Second on stage two, Cavendish had had to wait for a week before the next opportunity to strike in his speciality, the bunch sprints. But on yesterday it was Cavendish's turn to raise his arms in the air in cycling's second biggest stage race after faultless manoeuvring by his team-mates had left him at the head of the field with 150 metres to go.

A brief but powerful acceleration saw the Briton take the ninth win of his season and 37th of his career – just four short of the UK's all-time record – by more than a bikelength over Allan Davis of Australia.

Already the first Briton ever to lead the Tour of Italy after Columbia-Highroad won the opening team time trial, Cavendish's individual victory provides confirmation that he is well on track for the Tour de France, where he will be gunning for the sprinters top prize, the Tour's green points jersey.