Cycling: Defiant Cavendish back out in front

(GETTY IMAGES)

Mark Cavendish stuck his fingers up at his critics as he crossed the line for only his second win of the season on the Tour de Romandie yesterday. Set for the finale by his Team Columbia, he surged with 200 metres to go to upstage Germany's Danilo Hondo and South Africa's Robbie Hunter.

It was Cavendish's 58th career win, but a difficult start to the season had raised doubts about his form although he made it clear he thought the criticism unfair with an unequivocal gesture at the finish. "I did it really to say I'm back," he said."Today I showed I had not lost it, that my team had not lost it. It was not only me who was written down but also my team."

Cavendish explained that he had spent three weeks in bed with a dental infection at the start of the season.