Pic by www.tdwsport.com

Team Columbia-Highroad sprinter Mark Cavendish lifted the final stage of Tirreno-Adriatico, winning the sprint with an impressive burst of speed.

It was Cavendish’s fifth win of the season and the 11th win for Team Columbia-High Road.

Cavendish got a perfect lead out from his team mates in the final kilometre of the high-speed finish. George Hincapie pulled Cavendish clear of the other sprinters, then when Daniele Bennati started his sprint early, Cavendish got on his wheel before accelerated past him.

Stage three winner Tyler Farrar was on Cavendish’s wheel but did not have the speed to threaten him.

“The other day I was beaten on the line, so I had a point to prove today,” Cavendish said. “I wasn’t out for revenge because I like to win every race I ride, but I wanted to prove I’m the fastest.”

“The team rode perfectly yet again. They kept the break under control and then I had the perfect lead out. Bennati went but I was able to get past him quite easily.”

Cavendish recently reversed his decision not to race the track again following disappointment at the Beijing Olympics, and will contest the scratch race at the world track cycling championships in Pruszkow, Poland as Commonwealth Games champion.