Great Britain’s Mark Cavendish became the first rider in seven years to win four Giro d’Italia stages in one year as he collected career victory number 101 in Cherasco.
The ‘Manx Missile’ was 12th heading into the final kilometre only to pull off another trademark sprint finish to soar past Giacomo Nizzolo in the last 300m, with Luka Mezgec taking third.
This victory in stage 13 was his fourth in this year’s Giro, becoming the first man to pull off such a feat since Ivan Basso did so in 2006.
Cavendish is now one Grand Tours stage win behind Benard Hinault for fifth place on the all-time list, although he admitted his latest effort had taken it out of him.
“This was a bit of a bonus but I'm so tired and I don't know how I'm going to get into the mountains," the 27-year-old said.
"I had to go 350m out after that hard day and I'm on my knees. I didn't want to go for the sprint but the call came from the team so I had to go for it.
“Once again the team did brilliantly and I had to finish it for them."
© Sportsbeat 2013