Cav completed Grand Tour hat-trick

Mark Cavendish sprinted to victory in Brescia to take the red jersey in the Giro d’Italia and become only the fifth-ever rider to win the points classification in all three of cycling’s Grand Tours.

The Manxman edged out Sacha Modolo and Elia Viviani to take the red jersey back from overall winner Vincenzo Nibali, who claimed it during his race-defining victory in the mountains on the penultimate stage.

Cavendish, who won the points classification in the 2010 Vuelta a Espana and 2011 Tour de France but finished second by a single point here last year, took both of the intermediate sprints on today’s final stage into Brescia, and the Omega Pharma-Quick Step rider then positioned himself perfectly for one final burst to the line at the finish.

Nibali, who has been the clear class of the field in this year’s race after the early exits of Bradley Wiggins and defending champion Ryder Hesjedal, finished the race four minutes 43 seconds ahead of second-placed Rigoberto Uran of Team Sky.