Mark’s escape bid is blocked

– British sprint ace Mark Cavendish had to be told by the bodyguards of Turkish president Tayyip Erdogan to return to the podium after trying to leave before the head of state awarded the prizes for the Tour of Turkey yesterday.

Cavendish, who enjoyed a successful race, winning three stages, tried to make a premature exit after first waiting for Erdogan to turn up for the prizegiving ceremony and then sat through a long speech by the president. –

Istanbul