'Just another win' for Cavendish

One day after his 22nd birthday, T-Mobile sprinting sensation Mark Cavendish scored his first ProTour victory at the Volta a Catalunya, but described the stage two sprint as "just another win really" rather than a milestone in his already blossoming career as a professional.

Speaking to British Cycling, Cavendish hinted at surpassing Robbie McEwen's tally of eight European victories achieved by the Australian during his first professional season with Rabobank in 1996. "Robbie McEwen won eight European races in his first season," said Cavendish. "There's unfinished business there."

The young Manxman had been taken to Northern Spain by T-Mobile partly as a test of his performance in more mountainous stage races, but the three categorised climbs over 170km didn't appear to soften his legs for the sprint. "Mark was simply the strongest in the finale here today," said T-Mobile directeur sportif Jan Schaffrath.

"By taking a win like this at the start of such a tough stage-race gives us all confidence, which is extremely important to us. Mark was also one of the strongest in yesterday's team time trial. We are all delighted."