Last updated on .From the section Cycling

Cavendish thrilled the sell-out crowd with victory in the scratch race

World road race champion Mark Cavendish made a successful return to track cycling winning the scratch race at the Manchester velodrome.

In his first track appearance since the 2009 World championships, Cavendish won in front of a sell-out crowd at the National Cycling Centre.

Cavendish took the honours in the scratch race ahead of Steven Burke.

He said after the race: "It all started off here [in Manchester] so it's good to come back."

CAVENDISH'S SUPERB 2011 Won world road race title in Copenhagen

Won sprinter's green jersey at Tour de France after five stage victories

Won two stages of Giro d'Italia

Won two stages of Tour of Britain

Won London-Surrey Classic

Won Grote Scheldeprijs race for a third time

He added: "It was more intense than what I'm used to at this time of year. The reception I had was amazing. It's packed here and it's great."

The scratch race at the Revolution 34 event was competed over 15km, with Cavendish winning in a time of 17 minutes exactly.

Team Sky's Alex Dowsett and Geraint Thomas made early breaks in the race, but eventually finished in 15th and 18th place respectively.

The recently-retired rider Rob Hayles was afforded a standing ovation by the 4,000 crowd and fellow riders paid tribute to the 38-year-old who won Olympic medals at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and four years later in Athens.

Ed Clancy and Andrew Tennant won the 1km Madison time trial event.