OMEGA-PHARMA QUICKSTEP’s Mark Cavendish won the opening stage of the Giro d’Italia this afternoon, finishing ahead of Elia Viviani (Cannondale) and Nacer Bouhanni (Fdj) in Naples this afternoon.
It is Cavendish’s 11th stage win in the Giro but the first time the Isle of Man native has pulled on the race leader’s pink jersey.
The 130km first stage began and ended in Naples, with Cavendish coming out on top in a dash for the line after eight laps of a short city circuit.
He ‘celebrated’ his win by dropping the f-bomb on live television too.
YouTube: Patrick McCrudden
Elsewhere, race favourite Bradley Wiggins finished 18 seconds behind in the peloton with the other leading Giro contenders.
Sunday’s second stage will see the riders take part in a team time trial over 17.4 km on the island of Ischia.
