Cav opens win account in Oman

Manxman puts down first marker in bid for Tour de France spot, writes Vern Pitt

- Vern Pitt

If Mark Cavendish holds any ambitions of going to the Tour de France - when has he not? - then he appeared to be going the right way about getting himself there this last week at the Tour of Oman.

The Manxman had won his first stage of the year at only the second opportunity at the time of going to press.

The Quick-Step rider is down to ride the Giro d’Italia and not the Tour this year, his Belgian team boss Patrick Lefevere favouring young up-and-comer Fabio Jakobsen as his sprinter for the Tour. But Cavendish has always centred his season around three weeks in France in July and will doubtless want to make a good case that he should be selected.