VUELTA 2010: Cavendish pipped in sprint finish but retains red jersey

By Sportsbeat staff

MARK Cavendish was outsmarted in sprint finish but he maintains the leader's red jersey at the Vuelta a Espana.

LEADER: Mark Cavendish was beaten to the line in a sprint finish but an unlikely rival but retains the leader's jersey at the Tour of Spain (Reuters)

The British sprinter looked well place to strike as the 173km second stage from Alcalá de Guadaíra to Marbella wound up to a predicted sprint finish.

With just 100 metres left, he powered towards the line only for Française des Jeux rider Yauheni Hutarovich to surge up the inside to claim a surprise victory.

Tyler Farrar was third and Alessandro Petacchi fourth while Team Sky's Ben Swift - who was this week named in England's Commonwealth Games team - was an encouraging eighth.

However, Cavendish - who became the first British rider to lead the Vuelta following HTC Colombia's victory in the floodlit team trial in Seville - insists he can still add to his tally of 22 Grand Tour stage wins.

Whether the British rider completes the Vuelta - with next month's World Championship road race his end of season priority - remains unlikely with stage wins his stated aim.

However, Monday's 157km third stage between the holiday resorts of Marbella and Malaga sees the first climbing challenges of the race, meaning Cavendish's focus will certainly switch to three flat stages next week.