Cycling: Mark Cavendish takes the lead in Netherlands

MARK Cavendish finished second on the second stage of Ster ZLM Toer, but time bonuses saw the world champion claim the overall lead in what is his final race before the start of the Tour de France.

Cavendish, who was third behind Marcel Kittel in yesterday’s opening stage, had to settle for the runners-up spot behind Andre Griepel (Lotto-Belisol) and ahead of Mark Renshaw (Rabobank) on yesterday’s 167-kilometre stage which ran through the Limburg hills in southern Holland. Time bonuses saw him claim the yellow jersey, as well as the points classification’s green jersey.

Cavendish, Renshaw, Griepel and Kittel (Argos-Shimano) now enter the final two stages level at the top of the general classification rankings, with the race set to finish on Sunday.