Cavendish edged out

The Argos-Shimano rider laid down a marker ahead of the Tour de France by beating two of the likely sprint kings in the year’s showpiece tour.

The 151km route from Eindhoven to Sittard/Geleen saw an early breakaway from  Sven Vandousselaere, Jesper Schipper, Rens te Stroet and Jeffrey Wiersma, but despite at one point enjoying a six and a half minute advantage, they were reeled back into the peloton with 15km to go.

Cavendish’s Team Sky controlled the early part of the sprint, but the Manxman could not finish the lead-out job, and German Kittel powered in to take his sixth win of the season.