Cavendish sprints away to victory in Giro d’Italia

The British world champion was brilliantly led out by Welsh team-mate Geraint Thomas in the closing stages of yesterday’s 206 kilometres stage in central Denmark.

Australia’s Matt Goss, riding for Orica GreenEdge, was second with Geoffrey Soupe (FDJ-Big Mat) third.

Yorkshire’s Scott Thwaites is flying high at the top of the Premier Calendar National Road Race Series standings after securing victory in yesterday’s Tour of the Reservoir event in Northumberland.

The 22-year-old, from Burley in Wharfedale, took the win by just a few inches ahead of Sigma Sport rival Peter Hawkins, while Rotherham’s Russell Downing – a team-mate of Thwaites at Endura Racing – took third.

With previous series leader Jonny McEvoy not scoring any points, Thwaites is the new leader of the Premier Calendar Series at the halfway stage.

Driffield’s Nathan Wilson held the bunch back in the Bridlington CC Road Race to take first place. The 25-year-old, who races for Wilson Wheels, pipped Ewan Sewell on the line in the 100km race held in Burton Fleming.

In time trialling, Hessle-based Team Swift rider Joel Wainman won the Yorkshire Cycling Federation’s 25-mile event which took the riders from Topcliffe to South Kilvington twice. The 37-year-old clocked 51min 53sec to take the win by 29 seconds from team-mate Steve Berry, while Bonshakers RT rider Steve Smales was third, more than two minutes behind Wainman’s pace.

Craven Energy rider Ian Taylor won the opening round of the Yorkshire Cyclo-Cross Summer Series, staged this week at Oakbank School in Keighley.

Bradford’s Joe Moses, 18, secured overall victory in the Sleepwell Hotels Isle of Man Junior Tour.