Mark Cavendish second to Fernando Gaviria on season debut at Tour of Oman

Mark Cavendish was a close second on his season debut at the Tour of Oman. Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl rider Cavendish was pipped to the line on the opening stage in a sprint finish by UAE Team Emirates’ Fernando Gaviria. Ad/> Cavendish, 36, beat Australian Kaden Groves (BikeExchange-Jayco) into third.

Tour of OmanCavendish to make comeback at Tour of Oman08/02/2022 AT 11:04 Cavendish was competing for the first time since suffering serious injuries at Six Days of Ghent in November. He was sat in the fourth wheel as the sprint started and showed a turn of speed to make up ground, but couldn’t catch Gaviria before the line. Pogacar returns to training after catching Covid-19 Bernal feeling 'born again' after leaving hospital The 138km stage featured an early breakaway from Jan Dunnewind (Team Novo Nordisk), Peio Goikoetxea (Euskaltel-Euskadi) and Mohammed Al-Wahibi (Oman).

They were caught after the only climb of the day and it was left to the sprinters to challenge for victory. The second stage on Friday is a flat 167.5km route from Naseem Park to Suhar Corniche. /> Cavendish, who won a stage at the Tour of Oman in 2011, is currently on a one-year extension deal with Quick-Step, and barring any further issues he will appear at the season's first Grand Tour, the Giro d'Italia.