Cavendish takes Italian stage win

Cavendish is in the GB team for the track cycling World Championships

Great Britain's Mark Cavendish has won the final stage of the week-long Tirreno-Adriatico race in Italy.

The Columbia team rider beat America's Tyler Farrar and Australia's Baden Cooke in a sprint finish after racing around San Benedetto del Tronto.

"I had a point to prove - I wanted to prove I'm the fastest," Cavendish said.

Italy's Michele Scarponi, who recently returned from an 18-month ban for his involvement in Spain's doping scandal Operation Puerto, took the overall win.

The Diquigiovanni rider was fourth in Sunday's time trial and won Monday's mountain stage.

"Finally, I've gotten a big win again. I suffered quite a lot because of what happened but now I believe in myself again," Scarponi said. "Thanks to everyone who believed in me."

The Tirreno-Adriatico is a warm-up for the season's first single-day classic, the 185-mile Milan-San Remo race which takes place on Saturday.

Cavendish is set to take part, but is placing no expectations on himself, particularly as he knows he will struggle over the famed Cipressa and Poggio hills near the finish.

"I've never done that distance before," Cavendish said.

"It's one of the biggest races in the world but I'm only 23, so I'm going more for experience I think."

Seven-times Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong will also compete in Europe for the first time since coming out of retirement when he takes part in the event.