Britain's Mark Cavendish wins Milano-Torino

Mark Cavendish sprinted to victory to become the first Briton to win the Milano-Torino.

Quick Step-Alpha Vinyl Team rider Cavendish rode to the front of the pack in the final hundred metres at the end of a largely flat 199km race.

The 36-year-old becomes the oldest winner of the oldest race on the international calendar, first held in 1876.

Nacer Bouhanni finished second, while Alexander Kristoff came third.

Cavendish, who claims his 159th career win, crossed the finish line in a time of four hours and 31 minutes — 22 seconds in front of Team Arkea-Samsic's Bouhanni and Intermarche-Wanty-Gobert Materiaux's Kristoff.

«I'm particularly happy. This is the perfect team for a one-day race,» said Cavendish.

«We never panicked. My team mates did a solid race for me. This is just incredible the way they've led me out.

»I like to win any race. I've already won Milan-Sanremo. So now I have won Milano-Torino as well.

«It's not always a race for sprinters, so I'm happy to have my name on the same record book as some great climbers.»