Cycling: Mark Cavendish takes stage in Three Days of De Panne

Cavendish bags belgian victory (AFP)

Mark Cavendish won his seventh stage of the season after a fantastic sprint finish at the Three Days of De Panne in Belgium.

The Manxman benefited from a strong lead-out from his Omega Pharma-Quick Step team-mates as the race broke apart inside the last kilometre.

The pace quickened towards the line but Cavendish made his experience count to finish half a bike length ahead of Cannondale’s Elia Viviani.

Cavendish’s main rival for the Tour de France green jersey, Peter Sagan, was nowhere to be seen in the bunch finish.