TERAMO, Italy (AP) — Mark Cavendish of Britain responded to a bit of controversy by winning the 10th stage of the Giro d’Italia in a sprint finish Tuesday.
Race favorite Alberto Contador wore the pink jersey for the first time in this year’s Giro and retained the overall lead.
Cavendish was timed in 4 hours, 49 seconds over the mostly flat 99-mile route from Termoli to Teramo, which featured a slight uphill finish. Alessandro Petacchi finished second with the same time.
Before the stage, Spanish sprinter Francisco Ventoso said Cavendish should have been disqualified for getting help from his team car in Sunday’s uphill finish on Mount Etna.
Wednesday’s 11th stage is a hilly 89-mile leg from Tortoreto Lido to Castelfidardo.
