Britain’s Mark Cavendish announced a return to the kind of spectacular form he displayed last year when he powered his way to victory in the second stage of the Tour of Catalonia on Tuesday.

Germany’s Paul Voss, who finished 24th with the same time as Cavendish, remains the overall leader after winning Monday’s time trial.

One of the favourites, last year’s Tour de France runner-up Andy Schleck, was forced to skip Tuesday’s stage with stomach problems. He is expected to return to the event on Wednesday, but is now out of contention.

Cavendish covered the 182.6 kilometres between Salt and Banyoles in northeastern Spain in four hours, 15 minutes and 46 seconds, edging Argentina’s Juan Jose Haedo and Spain’s Aitor Galdos to the line in a mass sprint finish.

The 24-year-old Isle of Man-born rider last year became the first Tour de France competitor in the post-War era to win six stages from a sprint in one edition of the event.

But a late start to competition this year, due mainly to dental problems, appeared to have left him short of full fitness.

On Saturday, he finished a dismal 89th in the Milan-SanRemo one-day classic, an event he won in 2009.

Tuesday’s win was his first stage victory since he competed in the Tour of Missouri in September.

This year’s Tour of Catalonia is missing some big names, including two-time Tour de France winner Alberto Contador and Britain’s Olympic gold medalist Bradley Wiggins.

Contador, who recently claimed his second victory in the Paris-Nice stage race, was scheduled to race in Catalonia but decided to change his plans last week.

His decision was seen by some as a direct attempt to provoke US rival Lance Armstrong, who is scheduled to race the Criterium International in Corsica.

Results stage 2

1. Mark Cavendish (Team HTC-Columbia) 4:15:46
2. Juan José Haedo (Team Saxo Bank) m.t.
3. Aitor Galdos (Euskaltel-Euskadi) m.t.
4. Samuel Dumoulin (Cofidis) m.t.
5. Michel Kreder (Garmin-Transitions) m.t.
6. Manuel Cardoso (Footon-Servetto-Fuji) m.t.
7. Kristjan Koren (Liquigas) m.t.
8. Nicola Roche (AG2R) m.t.
9. Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Transitions) m.t.
10. Daniel Moreno (Omega Pharma-Lotto) m.t.

General classification after stage 2

1. Paul Voss (Team Milram) 4:20:43
2. Levi Leipheimer (Team RadioShack) at 0’01
3. Andreas Kloden (Team RadioShack) at 0’02
4. Dominik Nerz (Team Milram) at 0’04
5. Jan Bakelants (Omega Pharma-Lotto)

FULL REPORT TO COME

File Photo by: CorVos Pro