CHERASCO, Italy (AP) — Mark Cavendish sprinted to victory in the 13th and longest stage of the Giro d’Italia on Friday. Italy’s Vincenzo Nibali kept the overall lead, boosting his chances of winning his home country’s biggest cycling race.
Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins and defending champion Ryder Hesjedal withdrew before the stage. Wiggins’s team cited a “worsening chest infection.” Hesjedal is more than 32 minutes behind and his team says he pulled out because of a “deteriorating physical condition.”
Cavendish won in 6 hours, 9 minutes, 55 seconds. It was his second straight stage victory and the fourth in this year’s Giro.
Giacomo Nizzolo was second, with Luka Mezgec third in the 158-mile leg from Busseto to Cherasco.
Nibali kept his 41-second lead over Cadel Evans, with the mountain stages coming up.
