RAVENNA, Italy (AP) — British standout Mark Cavendish won his second Giro d’Italia stage in three days, taking the 12th leg with another sprint victory on Thursday.
Alberto Contador retained the overall lead, with a long series of difficult mountain stages beginning on Friday.
Cavendish rode the mostly flat 114-mile route from Castelfidardo to Ravenna in 4 hours, 17 minutes, 25 seconds. Italians Davide Appollonio and Alessandro Petacchi finished second and third, respectively, both with the same time.
Cavendish also won stage 10 on Tuesday, and has seven Giro victories in his career.
The 13th stage on Friday is a 104-mile leg from Spilimbergo to Grossglockner, Austria, featuring four climbs, including an uphill finish.
