Manchester's Mark Cavendish claimed his second stage victory of this year's Giro D'Italia beating out Daniele Bennati in a stage 13 mass sprint.

Italy's Bennati, who had overcome Cavendish in a photo-finish during Thursday's 12th stage, launched the mass sprint 100 metres from the line but was easily overpowered by the 23-year-old High Road rider.

Cavendish was thankful to his rival for allowing him the space to contest the sprint.

"This definitely makes up for losing in Carpi because I was really disappointed to lose by so little," he said.

"Today I promised my team-mates I'd win and we did a perfect sprint. They gave me a great lead out and then I did the rest.

"I have to say a massive thanks to Bennati. He showed great sportsmanship by letting me through the gap. That meant we could fairly contest the sprint and show who was the fastest.

"I probably would have closed the gap in the same situation, but I hope to pay him back some time in the future for his kindness."

Cavendish, a stage four sprint winner, takes his second stage win in one of the three Grand Tours and signals his arrival as a world-class sprinter ahead of July's Tour de France.

Euskaltel's Koldo Fernandez took third in front of Milram veteran Erik Zabel and Slipstream's Julian Dean.

Australian sprint star Robbie McEwen had to settle for another disappointing day after finishing ninth, and has already indicated that he will abandon the Tour of Italy now that the race is returning to the mountains.

He is one of several sprinters ready to pull out in the final week; however Cavendish wants to experience riding in the high mountains of a major stage race.

"I hope to perhaps win the points jersey in the Giro d'Italia or the Tour de France one day and to do that you need to be able to suffer and make it through the mountains," he continued.

"I'm going to treat the final week as a massive learning curve. I'll take things day by day and only quit if I get too tired. I'm enjoying the Giro and want to stay as long as possible."

Mickael Buffaz (Cofidis) and Josu Agirre (Euskaltel) launched Friday's only successful break-away 30 kilometres into the 177-km trip from Modena to Cittadella, but were easily caught in the final 15 kilometres.

Though rain again made for dangerous road conditions, the peloton was very cautious in taking two loops through Cittadella, which included a potentially disastrous 90 degree left hand turn in the final kilometre.

Quick Step's Giovanni Visconti again retained his overall lead by finishing in the main bunch, but is expected to surrender it in Saturday's 195km 14th stage from Verona to Alpe di Pampeago in the Dolomite mountains.

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Jeremy Stahl / Eurosport