Tour of Ireland:Mark Cavendish earned the 49th professional win of his career with victory on stage two of the Tour of Ireland from Clonmel to Kerry today.The 24-year-old Manxman, winner of six stages in the Tour de France, exploded down the finishing straight to hold off the challenge of Belgian Michael Van Staeyen (Rabobank) and Australia's Stuart O'Grady (Saxo Bank) in a mass sprint for the line in Killarney.
Yorkshire’s Russell Downing retained the overall race lead for Candi TV going into tomorrow’s final stage from Bantry to Cork, with Letterkenny rider Philip Deignan holding on to fourth spot.
Seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong is in 20th place, 26 seconds off the leader.
Saturday’s triumph was Cavendish fourth stage victory of his career in the Tour of Ireland and his 21st of the season.
The Manxman once again paid tribute to his team in a sprint he described as “the first time I’ve gone really deep since July (in the Tour de France)”.
“It’s always good to win, and though it was a tough finish we managed to take control of things with two kilometres to go,” he added.
“It was a team win, one guy crosses the line with his arms in the air, but it’s a success for everybody.”