Cavendish defends his first Tour de France yellow jersey

Britain’s sprinter Mark Cavendish puts on the overall leader’s yellow jersey after the first stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 188 kilometers (116.8 miles) with start in Mont-Saint-Michel and finish in Utah Beach, France, Saturday, July 2, 2016. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

CHERBOURG-EN-COTENTIN, France — British sprinter Mark Cavendish is defending the first Tour de France yellow jersey of his career during Sunday’s second stage of the race.

With bad weather expected throughout the day and an uphill finish to Cherbourg-en-Cotentin that does not suit him well, Cavendish is not among the contenders for the stage win.

The final 1.9-kilometer climb includes a section with a 14 percent gradient, a profile favoring so-called “punchers” like Spaniards Alejandro Valverde and Joaquim Rodriguez.