
Manx cycling star Mark Cavendish starts in the second most important endurance event to the Tour de France - the Giro d'Italia - today.
He came to world prominence in the sport at last year's event when he took two stage wins before going on to take a record-breaking four at the Tour de France.
This year's edition begins in Venice with a fairly flat 20.5k Time Trial, and Sunday and Monday's stages are likely to favour the sprinters.
Most experts think Cavendish will pull out of the Giro before the end in order to stay fully fit and focused on the Tour de France.

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