HTC-Highroad’s Mark Cavendish, denied a win in Stage Two of the 2011 Giro d’Italia, came back with a win in Stage Ten, soundly defeating Lampre’s Alessandro Petacchi in the final sprint.
Cavendish claimed Petacchi blocked him in Stage Two. In Stage Ten the Manx Missile blew past Petacchi so quickly there was no time to worry about interference.
Cavendish was determined to emerge from the Giro as the premier sprinter even though there were not many sprint stages.
“There are three proper sprints in this entire Giro,” he told Eurosport after the stage. “I fought to be there for it the first day. What happened that day just made me more hungry today.”
“The team rode incredible. No other team wanted to help us—they knew we wanted it after last time—so our guys ride the whole time on the front today and did an incredible job.”
No team was able to organize a good leadout. Quick Step’s Gerald Ciolek tried to lead out Francesco Chicchi, but the Italian sprinter got lost in the chaos. Two Movistar riders then made a strong move, and Alessandro Petacchi latched onto their wheels.
None of these early attackers calculated on the slight uphill slope of the final 100 meters; Mark Cavendish did. He sat on Petacchi’s wheel, waited until the final 150 meters, the shifted right and started his own sprint, dropping everyone to take the stage win
I got on Petacchi’s wheel—I knew if I was behind Petacchi I wasn’t in a bad position because I could surprise him. I just waited. Petacchi went and it was just a case of going when I wanted to. I went at 150 to go and I won, so I’m really happy.”
Stage 11, 144 km from Tortoreto Lido to Castelfidardo, won’t be a good one for Cavendish. There are four Cat 4 climbs and uphill finish—this will be a great stage for a big breakaway or some crazy solo attacks.
Stage 12 on Thursday, 184 km from Castelfidardo to Ravenna, will be deciding duel for Cavendish and Petacchi. The stage is almost completely flat and will surely end in another group sprint. Here is where either Cavendish or Petacchi will emerge with the sprinters green jersey.
Cavendish claimed Petacchi blocked him in Stage Two. In Stage Ten the Manx Missile blew past Petacchi so quickly there was no time to worry about interference.
Cavendish was determined to emerge from the Giro as the premier sprinter even though there were not many sprint stages.
“There are three proper sprints in this entire Giro,” he told Eurosport after the stage. “I fought to be there for it the first day. What happened that day just made me more hungry today.”
“The team rode incredible. No other team wanted to help us—they knew we wanted it after last time—so our guys ride the whole time on the front today and did an incredible job.”
No team was able to organize a good leadout. Quick Step’s Gerald Ciolek tried to lead out Francesco Chicchi, but the Italian sprinter got lost in the chaos. Two Movistar riders then made a strong move, and Alessandro Petacchi latched onto their wheels.
None of these early attackers calculated on the slight uphill slope of the final 100 meters; Mark Cavendish did. He sat on Petacchi’s wheel, waited until the final 150 meters, the shifted right and started his own sprint, dropping everyone to take the stage win
I got on Petacchi’s wheel—I knew if I was behind Petacchi I wasn’t in a bad position because I could surprise him. I just waited. Petacchi went and it was just a case of going when I wanted to. I went at 150 to go and I won, so I’m really happy.”
Stage 11, 144 km from Tortoreto Lido to Castelfidardo, won’t be a good one for Cavendish. There are four Cat 4 climbs and uphill finish—this will be a great stage for a big breakaway or some crazy solo attacks.
Stage 12 on Thursday, 184 km from Castelfidardo to Ravenna, will be deciding duel for Cavendish and Petacchi. The stage is almost completely flat and will surely end in another group sprint. Here is where either Cavendish or Petacchi will emerge with the sprinters green jersey.
