Mark Cavendish wins back-to-back stages on injury return

Mark Cavendish missed the Commonwealth Games through injury

Mark Cavendish has won his second consecutive stage at the Tour de Poitou-Charentes with another trademark sprint finish.

The Omega-PharmaQuick Step rider, 29, won the 183.6km stage in France to extend his overall advantage to 14 seconds over Movistar's Enrique Sanz.

It is the Manxman's first victories since he was injured in a crash in the opening stage of the Tour de France.

"I have to thank my team-mates for the effort once again," Cavendish said.

"Two wins out of two is great and I must thank (team-mate) Kevin de Weert for riding most of the stage alone on the front."

Cavendish, whose victory was his 11th stage win of the season, required surgery after dislocating his shoulder and suffered ligament damage on the first stage of the Tour de France in Yorkshire in July.

The injury ruled him out of the Commonwealth Games where he had been selected to represent the Isle of Man.