Giro: Win for Cavendish

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A buzzing Mark Cavendish was delivered to the sweet spot in the sprint today and won the stage easily after the perfect lead out by his team

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With so few stages for the sprinters, this stage 6 was one that Mark Cavendish had to win and so he did. Former Tour de France winner Cadel Evans said of the finish afterwards “Stress and messy are the common terms used by my colleagues to describe today’s final… very messy”. And so it was.

2013 OPQS Giro stage 6 - Cavendish finish Tim De Waele

Win number 99 for Cav … (c)Tim De Waele

Being a sprinter’s stage there had to be a break away and it was two Aussies, Pursuit record holder Jack Bobridge (Blanco) and Cameron Wurf (Cannondale) who held the limelight for much of the stage. They were given a lot of leeway as the sprinter teams were not going to let this stage slip away and they were reeled in well before the two finishing circuits.

There was drama though before that when Wiggins stopped for a mechanical and a crash split the peloton when he was at the back. A chase by Team Sky then followed to get him back to the front. This they did and once the junction had been made, they went to the front and started to drill it to keep Wiggins safe.

Sprint trains, three or four some times, were side by side with Omega Pharma Quickstep occupying the left of the road protecting Cav for most of the time.

2013_Cavendish_Woutersnumber

As always when travelling at maxiumum speed, sprints trains came and went and even Wiggins himself got on the front to take the peloton into the final 3k and safety should there be a crash. Meanwhile, for probably the first time this year, the Quickstep train finished off by a rider who has come in for some stick, Gert Steegmans, delivered Cavendish perfectly to the finish.

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“There are only two stages for the sprinters in the first part of the Giro and I’ve won both of them, so I’m happy.”

“I’m so happy right now, it was incredible,” Cavendish said immediately after the victory. “The leadout was absolutely perfect, nothing went wrong, it was beautiful. I’m absolutely buzzing. Imagine you have a kit car, something you’ve built from the start as we have this year with the leadout.”

“You start it, ‘vroom vroom’ and you know, you have some fears about it, all those things having been put together, about being able to start the engine. I’m just the last part, the last one that makes the most noise. But when it works! That’s how you can win. I also want to dedicate this win to Wouter Weylandt, who died tragically at the Giro two years ago.”

This is the 26th win for OPQS, in three disciplines, in 2013. This is also the ninth UCI win for Cavendish, and the second of the Giro d’Italia. He now has 99 career wins.

“It was 100 percent beautiful today, and not just the leadout— from the beginning,” Cavendish said. “Bobridge and Wurf were two strong guys to have in the breakaway today. We had Serge Pauwels and Gianluca Brambilla pulling from the beginning and we were going strong. Really, really well and they kept going until the last kilometers.”

“Then Jerome Pineau, Michal Golas, Iljo Keisse, and Matteo Trentin took over, and even Julien Vermote came up after getting dropped. He’s a young guy and he really rode today. These guys rode until their legs couldn’t go anymore. It was really incredible to see that, and this is all before the leadout. I haven’t seen riding like this in about a year. Today made me so, so proud.”

“Then the leadout was very, very hectic,” Cavendish continued. “With the crash it made everybody nervous. All the GC teams were there with even less than 3km to go, like BMC Racing Team and Sky, as well as the sprint teams. It was real, real chaos.”

[pullquote]”I just tried to follow Gert Steegmans. He found my territory and then they timed it perfectly. There was always going to be a team that went too early with a headwind finish. My guys waited, waited, they were patient and they hit it at exactly the right time.[/pullquote]

“I just tried to follow Gert Steegmans. He found my territory and then they timed it perfectly. There was always going to be a team that went too early with a headwind finish. My guys waited, waited, they were patient and they hit it at exactly the right time. They just went fast, fast, fast and they launched me perfectly and I was able to go to the line. I was really happy with it. Gert Steegmans showed today that when he’s at his best, he’s nearly the best leadout man there’s ever been.”

He them went on the podium and held aloft the race number of Wouter Weylandt (108) who died in the Tour of Italy two years ago.

The rider who was second, Cannondale’s Elia Viviani said of his sprinit  “I can’t regret today because I did all I had to do to sprint in the best way. The stage was flat but the finale was hard to manage. All the sprinters aimed to be competitive and my teammates did extra-work to take me in the first position.”

“Compared to the opening stage in Napoli, Cavendish prepared a great sprint: there was nothing I could do. Second place is never a consolation, but I had the confirmation I can be competitive and to play my chances. The red jersey? I aim to go after that but now it’s too early to say this. The first goal is always to win a stage”

Third placed Matt Goss explained “It was a bit of a complicated situation because of the crash. The boys did a good job to make it back on, but they used energy in doing that. Rather than have them lead me out, I had them go to the front and keep things quick. I was sitting a few wheels behind them at that point.”

“I wanted [Mark] Cavendish’s (Omega Pharma – Quick-Step) wheel but I didn’t want to use the energy it would require to keep [Elia] Viviani (Cannondale) off it,” Goss continued. “I was able to make a few places but not as many as I would have liked. It’s good to get a result after yesterday. It might not be the result we wanted, but we’re moving up from earlier stages.”

Sky Troubles

Team Sky’s Christian Knees explained what happened with Wiggins getting caught out by a crash … “Bradley needed a bike change minutes before that crash, so although he wasn’t involved in it, he did get stuck behind it.”

“The boys did a brilliant job pacing him back on but I got caught up the road. It was so loud in the bunch that I couldn’t hear over the race radio what had happened behind me until it was too late. When I found out I went straight to the front and told the FDJ and Quick-Step guys to stop pulling.”

“They agreed to ease off a little but the pace was still high so the boys had to ride hard to bring Bradley back on. They did a great job and then I moved him towards the front to keep him out of any further trouble.”

“This was the last sprint day for a while, so that’s why it was so hectic, and we knew we had to stay safe at the front. In the end we did that so we’re all happy with how things turned out.”

Afterwards on twitter, there was some banter with Adam Blythe saying “last 70km was like a mosh pit! Crash after crash - Avoid crash… Get back on…. Flat tyre…. Get back on…. Avoid next crash…. Get back on…. Avoid crashing before finish – my day!”

Meanwhile Alex Dowsett, who was seen at the front of the leadouts in the finale was complemented by his Movistar teammate Fran Ventoso (17th) by saying Alex Dowsett, You are too strong!!! I am proud to have you in the last km. thanks very much!”

The Essex rider meanwhile summed up the stage saying “pleasant first 100km, Loco last 70km! How I avoided the crash I will never know. It literally happened all around me. I said a little thank you to my Dogma and the man upstairs. Pretty hectic old finish, tried to keep Fran Ventoso up there as much as poss”.

More later

Stage 6
1 CAVENDISH Mark Omega Pharma – Quick-Step 03:56:03
2 VIVIANI Elia Cannondale Pro Cycling Team @ st
3 GOSS Matthew Orica GreenEDGE @ st
4 BOUHANNI Nacer Equipe Cycliste FDJ @ st
5 GAVAZZI Mattia Androni – Venezuela @ st
6 BELLETTI Manuel AG2R La Mondiale @ st
7 APPOLLONIO Davide AG2R La Mondiale @ st
8 NIZZOLO Giacomo RadioShack – Leopard @ st
9 BRESCHEL Matti Team Saxo-Tinkoff @ st
10 FERRARI Roberto Lampre – Merida @ st
11 AVILA VANEGAS Edwin Alcibiades Team Colombia @ st
12 DEHAES Kenny Lotto Belisol Team @ st
13 BLYTHE Adam BMC Racing Team @ st
14 KEISSE Iljo Omega Pharma – Quick-Step @ st
15 TAMOURIDIS Ioannis Euskaltel – Euskadi @ st
16 PIRAZZI Stefano Bardiani Valvole – CSF Inox @ st
17 VENTOSO ALBERDI Francisco José Movistar Team @ st
18 DEGENKOLB John Team Argos – Shimano @ st
19 JEANNESSON Arnold Equipe Cycliste FDJ @ st
20 BRUTT Pavel Katusha Team @ st
21 PAOLINI Luca Katusha Team @ st
22 MODOLO Sacha Bardiani Valvole – CSF Inox @ st
23 ERMETI Giairo Androni – Venezuela @ st
24 STEEGMANS Gert Omega Pharma – Quick-Step @ st
25 DE KORT Koen Team Argos – Shimano @ st
26 HUNTER Robert Garmin – Sharp @ st
27 DOCKX Gert Lotto Belisol Team @ st
28 BELLEMAKERS Dirk Lotto Belisol Team @ st
29 EVANS Cadel BMC Racing Team @ st
30 SCARPONI Michele Lampre – Merida @ st
31 LONGHO BORGHINI Paolo Cannondale Pro Cycling Team @ st
32 CARUSO Giampaolo Katusha Team @ st
33 BAK Lars Ytting Lotto Belisol Team @ st
34 OSPINA NAVARRO Dalivier Team Colombia @ st
35 BENNATI Daniele Team Saxo-Tinkoff @ st
36 VANOTTI Alessandro Astana Pro Team @ st
37 NIBALI Vincenzo Astana Pro Team @ st
38 NIEMIEC Przemyslaw Lampre – Merida @ st
39 MORABITO Steve BMC Racing Team @ st
40 SANTAMBROGIO Mauro Vini Fantini @ st
41 DOWSETT Alex Movistar Team @ st
42 OLIVEIRA Nelson RadioShack – Leopard @ st
43 KANGERT Tanel Astana Pro Team @ st
44 STETINA Peter Garmin – Sharp @ st
45 GATTO Oscar Vini Fantini @ st
46 COLBRELLI Sonny Bardiani Valvole – CSF Inox @ st
47 CHICCHI Francesco Vini Fantini @ st
48 ROSA Diego Androni – Venezuela @ st
49 BONNAFOND Guillaume AG2R La Mondiale @ st
50 SANTAROMITA Ivan BMC Racing Team @ st
51 BETANCUR GOMEZ Carlos Alberto AG2R La Mondiale @ st
52 HESJEDAL Ryder Garmin – Sharp @ st
53 CARUSO Damiano Cannondale Pro Cycling Team @ st
54 RODRIGUEZ Jackson Androni – Venezuela @ st
55 PIETROPOLLI Daniele Lampre – Merida @ st
56 ZEITS Andrey Astana Pro Team @ st
57 KEUKELEIRE Jens Orica GreenEDGE @ st
58 TROFIMOV Yuri Katusha Team @ st
59 MANUEL SILVA PIRES Bruno Team Saxo-Tinkoff @ st
60 CATTANEO Mattia Lampre – Merida @ st
61 KISERLOVSKI Robert RadioShack – Leopard @ st
62 MARTINEZ DE ESTEBAN Egoi Euskaltel – Euskadi @ st
63 DE GREEF Francis Lotto Belisol Team @ st
64 WYNANTS Maarten Blanco Pro Cycling Team @ st
65 GESINK Robert Blanco Pro Cycling Team @ st
66 WYSS Danilo BMC Racing Team @ st
67 PELLIZOTTI Franco Androni – Venezuela @ st
68 MARTENS Paul Blanco Pro Cycling Team @ st
69 TJALLINGII Maarten Blanco Pro Cycling Team @ st
70 FISCHER Murilo Antonio Equipe Cycliste FDJ @ st
71 DURBRIDGE Luke Orica GreenEDGE @ st
72 KESSIAKOFF Fredrik Astana Pro Team @ st
73 ROLLIN Dominique Equipe Cycliste FDJ @ st
74 KNEES Christian Sky Procycling @ st
75 DANIELSON Thomas Garmin – Sharp @ st
76 MOUREY Francis Equipe Cycliste FDJ @ st
77 HENAO MONTOYA Sergio Luis Sky Procycling @ st
78 REYNES MIMO Vicente Lotto Belisol Team @ st
79 SIUTSOU Kanstantsin Sky Procycling @ st
80 WIGGINS Bradley Sky Procycling @ st
81 KRUIJSWIJK Steven Blanco Pro Cycling Team @ st
82 ROUX Anthony Equipe Cycliste FDJ @ st
83 GARATE Juan Manuel Blanco Pro Cycling Team @ st
84 SERGENT Jesse RadioShack – Leopard @ st
85 HONDO Danilo RadioShack – Leopard @ st
86 ARU Fabio Astana Pro Team @ st
87 TRENTIN Matteo Omega Pharma – Quick-Step @ st
88 MAJKA Rafal Team Saxo-Tinkoff @ st
89 DAMUSEAU Thomas Team Argos – Shimano @ st
90 URAN Rigoberto Sky Procycling @ st
91 KELDERMAN Wilco Blanco Pro Cycling Team @ st
92 MEIER Christian Orica GreenEDGE @ st
93 VALLS FERRI Rafael Vacansoleil – DCM @ st
94 SABATINI Fabio Cannondale Pro Cycling Team @ st
95 QUINTERO NORENA Carlos Julian Team Colombia @ st
96 BOARO Manuele Team Saxo-Tinkoff @ st
97 SANCHEZ GONZALEZ Samuel Euskaltel – Euskadi @ st
98 SALERNO Cristiano Cannondale Pro Cycling Team @ st
99 ATAPUMA HURTADO John Darwin Team Colombia @ st
100 SARMIENTO TUNARROSA Jose Cayetano Cannondale Pro Cycling Team @ st
101 MACHADO Tiago RadioShack – Leopard @ st
102 WEENING Pieter Orica GreenEDGE @ st
103 VANDE VELDE Christian Garmin – Sharp @ st
104 GOLAS Michal Omega Pharma – Quick-Step @ st
105 VEUCHELEN Frederik Vacansoleil – DCM @ st
106 GASTAUER Ben AG2R La Mondiale @ st
107 SERPA PEREZ Jose Rodolfo Lampre – Merida @ st
108 AZANZA SOTO Jorge Euskaltel – Euskadi @ st
109 INTXAUSTI Benat Movistar Team @ st
110 PUCCIO Salvatore Sky Procycling @ st
111 VERDUGO MARCOTEGUI Gorka Euskaltel – Euskadi @ st
112 WURF Cameron Cannondale Pro Cycling Team @ st
113 PETROV Evgeni Team Saxo-Tinkoff @ st
114 CATALDO Dario Sky Procycling @ st
115 POZZATO Filippo Lampre – Merida @ st
116 IGNATENKO Petr Katusha Team @ st
117 DURASEK Kristijan Lampre – Merida @ st
118 POZZOVIVO Domenico AG2R La Mondiale @ st
119 DUARTE AREVALO Fabio Andres Team Colombia @ st
120 GRUZDEV Dmitriy Astana Pro Team @ st
121 SUTHERLAND Rory Team Saxo-Tinkoff @ st
122 DALL’ANTONIA Tiziano Cannondale Pro Cycling Team @ st
123 ROULSTON Hayden RadioShack – Leopard @ st
124 STORTONI Simone Lampre – Merida @ st
125 WILLEMS Frederik Lotto Belisol Team @ st
126 LOCATELLI Stefano Bardiani Valvole – CSF Inox @ st
127 KARPETS Vladimir Movistar Team @ st
128 TABORRE Fabio Vini Fantini @ st
129 BONGIORNO Francesco Manuel Bardiani Valvole – CSF Inox @ st
130 DUPONT Hubert AG2R La Mondiale @ st
131 DI LUCA Danilo Vini Fantini @ st
132 BENNETT George RadioShack – Leopard @ st
133 CHRISTENSEN Mads Team Saxo-Tinkoff @ st
134 PHINNEY Taylor BMC Racing Team @ st
135 ZARDINI Edoardo Bardiani Valvole – CSF Inox @ st
136 MEZGEC Luka Team Argos – Shimano @ st
137 LANCASTER Brett Orica GreenEDGE @ st
138 WAUTERS Willem Vacansoleil – DCM @ st
139 VICIOSO ARCOS Ángel Katusha Team @ st
140 DEKKER Thomas Garmin – Sharp @ st
141 HERRADA LOPEZ Jose Movistar Team @ st
142 KROON Karsten Team Saxo-Tinkoff @ st
143 ANDRIATO DE MATTAS Rafael Vini Fantini @ st
144 GIL MARTINEZ Tomas Aurelio Androni – Venezuela @ st
145 COBO ACEBO Juan Jose Movistar Team @ st
146 LE BON Johan Equipe Cycliste FDJ @ st
147 PANTANO GOMEZ Jarlinson Team Colombia @ st
148 ZANDIO ECHAIDE Xabier Sky Procycling @ st
149 CLEMENT Stef Blanco Pro Cycling Team @ st
150 RABOTTINI Matteo Vini Fantini @ st
151 BATTAGLIN Enrico Bardiani Valvole – CSF Inox @ st
152 VRECER Robert Euskaltel – Euskadi @ st
153 BERARD Julien AG2R La Mondiale @ st
154 DUQUE Leonardo Fabio Team Colombia @ st
155 CHALAPUD GOMEZ Robinson Eduardo Team Colombia @ st
156 DE BACKER Bert Team Argos – Shimano @ st
157 SELLA Emanuele Androni – Venezuela @ st
158 RUIJGH Rob Vacansoleil – DCM @ st
159 MARANGONI Alan Cannondale Pro Cycling Team @ st
160 MINGUEZ Miguel Euskaltel – Euskadi @ st
161 KEIZER Martijn Vacansoleil – DCM @ st
162 AGNOLI Valerio Astana Pro Team @ st
163 BULGAC Brian Lotto Belisol Team @ st
164 GARZELLI Stefano Vini Fantini @ st
165 CUMMINGS Stephen BMC Racing Team 00:26
166 TUFT Svein Orica GreenEDGE 00:30
167 POPOVYCH Yaroslav RadioShack – Leopard 00:34
168 FELLINE Fabio Androni – Venezuela @ st
169 HOWARD Leigh Orica GreenEDGE 00:37
170 TIMMER Albert Team Argos – Shimano 00:59
171 MOURIS Jens Orica GreenEDGE @ st
172 MARCATO Marco Vacansoleil – DCM 01:01
173 VERMOTE Julien Omega Pharma – Quick-Step 01:05
174 PINEAU J̩rome Omega Pharma РQuick-Step @ st
175 PATE Danny Sky Procycling 01:29
176 BOEM Nicola Bardiani Valvole – CSF Inox 01:49
177 GUSEV Vladimir Katusha Team 04:10
178 BELKOV Maxim Katusha Team @ st
179 TIRALONGO Paolo Astana Pro Team @ st
180 MILLAR David Garmin – Sharp @ st
181 NAVARDAUSKAS Ramunas Garmin – Sharp @ st
182 HANSEN Adam Lotto Belisol Team @ st
183 PAUWELS Serge Omega Pharma – Quick-Step @ st
184 LAMMERTINK Maurits Vacansoleil – DCM @ st
185 CAPECCHI Eros Movistar Team @ st
186 VISCONTI Giovanni Movistar Team 04:20
187 LUDVIGSSON Tobias Team Argos – Shimano 04:51
188 LODEWYCK Klaas BMC Racing Team 05:02
189 OSS Daniel BMC Racing Team @ st
190 GRETSCH Patrick Team Argos – Shimano @ st
191 CANOLA Marco Bardiani Valvole – CSF Inox 05:28
192 PICHON Laurent Equipe Cycliste FDJ 06:38
193 GEORGES Sylvain AG2R La Mondiale @ st
194 RUBIANO CHAVEZ Miguel Angel Androni – Venezuela 06:40
195 BRAMBILLA Gianluca Omega Pharma – Quick-Step @ st
196 KOZONTCHUK Dmitry Katusha Team @ st
197 PRONI Alessandro Vini Fantini 06:47
198 MARENTES TORRES Wilson Alexander Team Colombia 07:01
199 LIGTHART Pim Vacansoleil – DCM @ st
200 MESTRE Ricardo Euskaltel – Euskadi @ st
201 BOLE Grega Vacansoleil – DCM @ st
202 BOBRIDGE Jack Blanco Pro Cycling Team 07:19
203 HAAS Nathan Garmin – Sharp @ st
204 LASTRAS GARCIA Pablo Movistar Team 09:20

Overall
1 PAOLINI Luca Katusha Team 23:52:42
2 URAN Rigoberto Sky Procycling 00:17
3 INTXAUSTI Benat Movistar Team 00:26
4 NIBALI Vincenzo Astana Pro Team 00:31
5 HESJEDAL Ryder Garmin – Sharp 00:34
6 WIGGINS Bradley Sky Procycling @ st
7 CARUSO Giampaolo Katusha Team 00:36
8 HENAO MONTOYA Sergio Luis Sky Procycling 00:37
9 SANTAMBROGIO Mauro Vini Fantini 00:39
10 EVANS Cadel BMC Racing Team 00:42
11 DANIELSON Thomas Garmin – Sharp @ st
12 GESINK Robert Blanco Pro Cycling Team 00:45
13 TROFIMOV Yuri Katusha Team 00:46
14 SANTAROMITA Ivan BMC Racing Team 00:54
15 WEENING Pieter Orica GreenEDGE 00:55
16 KISERLOVSKI Robert RadioShack – Leopard 01:00
17 ARU Fabio Astana Pro Team 01:15
18 SANCHEZ GONZALEZ Samuel Euskaltel – Euskadi 01:18
19 KRUIJSWIJK Steven Blanco Pro Cycling Team 01:19
20 SCARPONI Michele Lampre – Merida 01:23
21 NIEMIEC Przemyslaw Lampre – Merida @ st
22 VALLS FERRI Rafael Vacansoleil – DCM 01:25
23 MAJKA Rafal Team Saxo-Tinkoff 01:34
24 PELLIZOTTI Franco Androni – Venezuela 01:37
25 GOLAS Michal Omega Pharma – Quick-Step 01:39
26 BETANCUR GOMEZ Carlos Alberto AG2R La Mondiale 01:41
27 POZZOVIVO Domenico AG2R La Mondiale @ st
28 MORABITO Steve BMC Racing Team 01:49
29 AZANZA SOTO Jorge Euskaltel – Euskadi 01:52
30 DI LUCA Danilo Vini Fantini 02:15

 

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