Britain's Mark Cavendish has won his second stage of this year's Giro d'Italia ? and proved he's the fastest man in the world over 200 metres at the moment.
Cavendish becomes the first British rider to win two Giro d'Italia stages. The other Brits to win in Italy's grand tour are Vin Denson in 1966 and Robert Millar in 1987.
Cavendish won stage four at Catanzaro-Lungomare last week before today's triumph in Cittadella.
The win also moves Cavendish up to eighth in Cycling Weekly's all-time list of British pro winners. He's won 17 races in a season and a bit as a professional.
The High Road lead-out train is still obviously a work in progress but Cavendish's team-mates scrapped and battled and fought to give him the best springboard they could.
In the final 200 metres, though, it was all about one man. Daniele Bennati, yesterday's leader, had absolutely no answer as soon as the Isle of Man rider pulled level with him.
As he headed for the line, Cavendish even had time to look over his shoulder to check on his rivals.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Yesterday Cavendish lost to Bennati by just three centimetres when his last-gasp lunge for the line came up just short. Today it was a different matter. Cavendish's win was convincing.
The 13th stage was a flat run of 177 kilometres from Modena to Cittadella. Two riders spent most of the day in front, building a lead of eight minutes at one stage. They were Josu Agirre Aseginolaza of Euskaltel and Mickael Buffaz of Cofidis.
They were caught with around 15 kilometres to go, which was dangerous territory for the sprinters. That was why Milram, Silence-Lotto and High Road, in particular, came to the front to prevent the counter-attacks.
On the run in, High Road gained and lost control at the front of the peloton several times. As they headed into the final two kilometres, Milram seized the front, looking to lead out Erik Zabel.
Britain's David Millar then did a huge turn under the kilometre kite to help his Slipstream team-mate Julian Dean.
Cavendish's last man was Andre Greipel, who took him into the perfect position to attack Bennati.
In the final 500 metres Cavendish took Bennati's wheel, then moved round the Italian and cruised past strongly.
GIRO D'ITALIA 2008: STAGE 13 RESULTS
1. Mark Cavendish (GB) High Road 177km in 4hours 11min 7secs
2. Daniele Bennati (Ita) Liquigas
3. Koldo Fernandez (Spa) Euskaltel
4. Erik Zabel (Ger) Milram
5. Julian Dean (Nzl) Slipstream
6. Mirco Lorenzetto (Ita) Lampre
7. Alexandre Usov (Blr) ag2r
8. Nikolai Trussov (Rus) Tinkoff
9. Robbie McEwen (Aus) Silence-Lotto
10. Graeme Brown (Aus) Rabobank all same time.
OVERALL CLASSIFICATION AFTER STAGE 13
1. Giovanni Visconti (Ita) Quick Step in 57hours 17min 6secs
Sports journalist Lionel Birnie has written professionally for Sunday Times, Procycling and of course Cycling Weekly. He is also an author, publisher, and co-founder of The Cycling Podcast. His first experience covering the Tour de France came in 1999, and he has presented The Cycling Podcast with Richard Moore and Daniel Friebe since 2013. He founded Peloton Publishing in 2010 and has ghostwritten and published the autobiography of Sean Kelly, as well as a number of other sports icons.
Knog Blinder 1300 review - excellent visibility for you and other road users
Everything you want to know about the Q Factor
