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NAPLES, Italy -- British standout Mark Cavendish won the opening stage of the Giro dItalia in a sprint Saturday that was marred by a crash shortly before the finish. Steve Atwater Youth Jersey . The main pack was split into two groups when riders went down with less than two kilometres to go in the 130-kilometre leg and less than a dozen riders were left in front to contest the sprint. Cavendish, who rides for the Omega Pharma-Quick Step team, finished in two hours 58 minutes 38 seconds on the circuit in downtown Naples, which featured a long, flat finishing straight. The Isle of Man rider has now won a combined 37 stages at the Giro, Tour and Vuelta -- cyclings three Grand Tours. Defending champion Ryder Hesjedal of Victoria, and other overall favourites Bradley Wiggins and Vincenzo Nibali, finished safely in the main pack. All of the riders who finished in the main pack were given the same time as the winner courtesy of the neutralizing rule for crashes in the final kilometres. Elia Viviani, an Italian with Cannondale, crossed second, and Nacer Bouhanni, a Frenchman with FDJ, was third. It was the 11th Giro stage win of Cavendishs career and his 98th victory overall. Hell wear the overall leaders pink jersey in Sundays second stage, a team time trial on the nearby island of Ischia. With time bonuses of 20, 12 and eight seconds handed out to the top three finishers, Cavendish took an eight-second lead on Viviani in the overall standings. It will mark the fourth time Cavendish wears the pink jersey. He wore it for two days in 2009 when his former team Columbia won the opening team time trial and for one day in 2011 after a stage win. "Ive worn it before at the start but that was thanks to my team," Cavendish said. "I really wanted to win this here in Napoli. ... Now I want to go for a pizza." Cavendish didnt have any teammates helping him in the finish but he used the crosswind to good effect and burst in front just before the line. "Im lucky I have the speed to be able to come like that in the final," he said The course featured two mild climbs in the Posillipo neighbourhood and several loops down the finishing straight alongside the bay. On a warm spring day, fans came out en masse to watch the race. Some even brought their dogs, one of which nearly tripped up some riders on a sharp corner after slipping under a barrier lining the road. With the roads narrow in areas and stretches of cobblestones, there were several crashes. Among those who hit the asphalt early on were Laurent Pichon of France, Matteo Rabottini of Italy and Miguel Minguez Ayala of Spain. Italians Mattia Gavazzi and Davide Apollonio, plus Belgian Klaas Lodewyck, were involved in the crash near the end that split the group, although they appeared to escape serious injury. "Some guys took me with them and I crashed into the barriers," Lodewyck said. Cavendish attributed the crashes to hairpin turns after long, wide straightaways. "Circuit races always have crashes but its nice to have circuit races for the fans," Cavendish said. "This is probably the most chaotic city Ive been to so to clear the traffic from the city centre Ive really got to take my hat off to the organizers." There were a couple of groups of early breakaway riders and the last man caught by the main pack was Cameron Wurf, an Australian with Cannondale, with about 20 kilometres to go. Cavendishs Omega team led the chase. Sundays team time trial from Ischia to Forio lasts 17.4 kilometres. While Omega is without its time trial specialist Tony Martin, Cavendish is hoping for a solid performance. "Were going to do everything we can to keep it," he said of the pink jersey. The race ends May 26 in Brescia. Drew Lock Womens Jersey . Argentina winger Ezequiel Lavezzi and France midfielder Blaise Matuidi scored, with star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic setting up both despite having a poor game by his high standards. Forward Eduardo gave Ajaccio the lead in the sixth minute after being set up by right winger Benjamin Andre, and the Corsican side looked comfortable in the first half, with the lively Johan Cavalli causing problems with his probing runs from midfield. Dalton Risner Broncos Jersey . -- Kyrie Irvings last-minute 3-pointer helped seal another victory for Cleveland -- and the Cavaliers longest winning streak since LeBron James left. http:///...ner-broncos-jerseys/ . Nathan MacKinnon, Jamie McGinn and Jan Hejda also scored for the Avalanche, who won despite being outshot 38-23. MacKinnons goal, also on the power play, came with just over a minute remaining.Jockeys are set to face stiffer penalties for manoeuvres that might impact on the safety or fairness of a race by causing interference. The change is part of moves to take effect from May 23 with the intention of providing a greater deterrent to riders, and comes as the result of British Horseracing Authority consultation with the Professional Jockeys Association, as well as the National Trainers Federation and Racehorse Owners Association.Under the new structure, Andrea Atzenis three-day ban incurred for careless riding in a controversial renewal of last years St Leger at Doncaster would now carry a ban of seven to eight days for improper riding. The BHA said there was a common feeling among those consulted that the rules and penalty structures should be reviewed during what is a usual annual process, following a series of offences in high-profile races in 2015.Instances where a rider manoeuvres during a race, when he knows or ought reasonably to have known, that by doing so interference would occur, are to be categorised as improper rather than careless and are set to carry a higher penalty of up to 21 days, with a minimum of four days for interference-related offences.In contrast, the impact of bans for the most minor offences will be reduced.One-day suspensions are to be removed from the bottom of the penalty range for careless riding in order that minor offences which would previously have incurred a one-day suspension will now receive a caution.The top end of the penalty range for careless riding is to be increased from nine days to 14 days.However, penalties for whip-related offences are to remain unchanged. Sky Racing Tickets Fast, secure racing tickets: Exclusive racing offers near you Jamie Stier, Director of Raceday Operations and Regulation for the BHA, said: Safety and fairness are paramount in our approach to regulating the sport and these facets are at the heart of the amendments to the rules and penalties we have announced today.Altering the definition of careless and improper riding means that manoeuvres which ought to have been obvious wwould cause interference are now categorised in the more serious category of improper riding. Brian Dawkins Jersey. his offence carries a greater penalty range than careless riding and this should serve as a greater deterrent to riders making such manoeuvres which could potentially undermine the safety of riders and horses, and the fairness of a race.We will monitor the impact of these changes. We are grateful to the PJA for their constructive participation in this project.The alteration to the penalty range for careless riding serves to, at the top end, provide a greater disincentive to ride in a careless manner, and at the same time, by dropping one day suspensions, ensure that riders are not incurring unwarranted suspensions for minor offences.Stier added: We are aware that niggly one-day offences may seem a minor penalty, but they do have an impact on jockeys as it causes them to lose potential earnings for a day.We have agreed with the PJA that it is appropriate to commence applying suspensions for careless riding at a level of offence which has previously incurred a two-day suspension.Therefore offences which would have incurred a one-day suspension will now instead attract a caution.On the subject of the whip, Stier said: We remain satisfied overall with the way in which British riders are adhering to the whip rules. We are encouraged by the ongoing decrease in the number of whip offences.The increased number of offences in Group or Grade One races in 2015 did prompt us to undertake a more detailed analysis of the data to see whether a trend was developing. That analysis revealed no evidence to support the development of such a trend.We do not see a need for further review of the penalties for whip offences as long as the downward trend in breaches continues, including those in high-value races.The British jockeys at Cheltenham recently showed that it is possible to ride within the rules in valuable races. We expect riders to continue such an approach throughout the remainder of the jump season and into the Flat season. Also See: Live results service Full racecards ￡10 free bet Get Sky Sports ' ' '