Cyclist Cavendish wins Giro 11th stage in tight finish

ARENZANO, Italy (Reuters) - Britain's Mark Cavendish edged ahead in a bunched finish to win the 11th stage of the Giro d'Italia on Wednesday.

The Team Columbia sprinter just crossed the line first to complete the 214-km route from Turin in four hours 51 minutes and 17 seconds.

American Tyler Farrar snatched second with Alessandro Petacchi, the Briton's big sprint rival, coming in third but on the same time after getting boxed in earlier in the race to the line.

Petacchi's LPR team mate and Italian compatriot Danilo Di Luca, the 2007 winner, kept the race lead for the seventh straight stage and stayed one minute 20 seconds ahead of Rabobank's Denis Menchov of Russia.

Cavendish held the pink jersey after the first day's team time trial and also won Sunday's controversial ninth stage in Milan, where times were not added to the overall classification after riders said the city centre course was too dangerous.

The 23-year-old, who knew Wednesday's finish well having won March's Milan-San Remo classic, said he was unaware Petacchi had been impeded and the pair embraced at the end.

"As long as it doesn't affect me, it's ok," he candidly told reporters.

"It's amazing when you smell the finish line. I knew the descent from Milan San Remo so it was the case of just doing the same. The team once again did the perfect job for me."

Petacchi, who won stages two and three, was philosophical: "Sprints are like that."