Mark Cavendish wins fifth stage of Giro d'Italia, Phinney crashes

World champion Mark Cavendish won the fifth stage of the Giro d'Italia on Thursday, while American Taylor Phinney crashed and Ramunas Navardauskas retained the overall lead.

Cavendish edged Matthew Goss of Australia to finish the 123-mile leg from Modena to Fano in 4 hours, 43 minutes, 15 seconds. It is the Team Sky rider's second victory in this year's Giro, after his Stage 2 win.

"I was a little bit tired and we did really what the other teams have done and let the others do the work," Cavendish said. "But we were able to commit all our guys at the end and we took the race up with 10K to go and it was textbook work from the team. I'm super super happy."

Navardauskas is five seconds ahead of Garmin-Barracuda teammate Robert Hunter.

Phinney collided with Lucas Sebastian Haedo about 18 miles from the finish. Both were swiftly back on their bikes but struggled to join the front of the pack.

Phinney had a swollen right ankle following a crash on Monday.

Cavendish stayed with the group in a tough finale before being expertly led to the finish by his teammates, who rode to the front with just over 3 miles left. Goss sprinted around Sacha Modolo to stay on Cavendish's heels but couldn't pass the Briton.

Italian Daniele Bennati was third.

The climbers get a chance to shine this weekend with the first hilly stages on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.