Mark Cavendish wins second stage of Tirreno-Adriatico

Image caption, Mark Cavendish is celebrating his fourth victory of the season

World champion Mark Cavendish won the second stage of the Tirreno-Adriatico, his fourth victory of the season.

The Team Sky rider beat Oscar Freire of Spain and American Tyler Farrar in the final sprint.

He clocked 6 hours, 32 minutes, 32 seconds over the largely flat 230km leg from San Vincenzo to Indicatore.

Australian Matt Goss, Cavendish's former team-mate at HTC-Highroad, retained the overall lead in the Italian coast-to-coast race.

The third stage on Friday takes the riders 178km from Indicatore to Terni.

Cavendish, in his debut season for Team Sky, and triumphed in the Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne last month.