Mark Cavendish, the Manx Missile, settled the question of who was the fastest man on a bike at the 2011 Giro d’Italia, beating rival Alessandro Petacchi—and everyone else—for his second stage win of this year’s Giro.
“The team once again did an outstanding job,” was Cavendish’s first comment to a Eurosport reporter after the stage.
This year’s Giro had only three real sprint finish stages, and Lampre’s Petacchi won the first with some controversial changing of lines. Cavendish protested, but decided the best revenge would be speed—more speed than his rival could muster.
HTC drove the pace all day long; no other team would take the lead, because they didn’t want to help Cavendish get the win. “We controlled the stage all day long, without the help of any other teams. We had to make the most of the job,” Cavendish said.
Eight km from the end, HTC-Columbia formed it patented perfect leadout train, with Petacchi firmly on Cav’s wheel. Peter Kennaugh of Sky was also up front, leading for Davide Appollonio.
The approach was tricky, with three 90-degree corners that had to be negotiated single-file. With Cavendish calling out directions, the HTC train came through the turns together. Several riders went down behind them, but none of the leaders were looking back.
Mark Renshaw led Cavendish perfectly into position, and Cav launched, with Petacchi right behind him. Petacchi broke left, trying to overtake the flying Manxman, but couldn’t; he gave up and tucked back behind before the line.
Davide Appollonio was almost a surprise victor. The Sky rider drew level with Cavendish on his right, and started to pass him. Cavendish responded with a final burst of speed and crossed the line half-a-wheel-width ahead.
“In the last kilometer or 700 meters, Mark Renshaw took over and took me in—did a fantastic job,” Cavendish continued. “I looked behind for Petacchi because he starts the sprint a little early—350 meters or so. I had a quick look behind at him and there was no danger from him in the sprint
“No real opponent for me today—it was easy.”
Cavendish will retire from the Giro now. The next three stages are intense mountain routes which could only hurt his sprinting ability for later races.
“The team once again did an outstanding job,” was Cavendish’s first comment to a Eurosport reporter after the stage.
This year’s Giro had only three real sprint finish stages, and Lampre’s Petacchi won the first with some controversial changing of lines. Cavendish protested, but decided the best revenge would be speed—more speed than his rival could muster.
HTC drove the pace all day long; no other team would take the lead, because they didn’t want to help Cavendish get the win. “We controlled the stage all day long, without the help of any other teams. We had to make the most of the job,” Cavendish said.
Eight km from the end, HTC-Columbia formed it patented perfect leadout train, with Petacchi firmly on Cav’s wheel. Peter Kennaugh of Sky was also up front, leading for Davide Appollonio.
The approach was tricky, with three 90-degree corners that had to be negotiated single-file. With Cavendish calling out directions, the HTC train came through the turns together. Several riders went down behind them, but none of the leaders were looking back.
Mark Renshaw led Cavendish perfectly into position, and Cav launched, with Petacchi right behind him. Petacchi broke left, trying to overtake the flying Manxman, but couldn’t; he gave up and tucked back behind before the line.
Davide Appollonio was almost a surprise victor. The Sky rider drew level with Cavendish on his right, and started to pass him. Cavendish responded with a final burst of speed and crossed the line half-a-wheel-width ahead.
“In the last kilometer or 700 meters, Mark Renshaw took over and took me in—did a fantastic job,” Cavendish continued. “I looked behind for Petacchi because he starts the sprint a little early—350 meters or so. I had a quick look behind at him and there was no danger from him in the sprint
“No real opponent for me today—it was easy.”
Cavendish will retire from the Giro now. The next three stages are intense mountain routes which could only hurt his sprinting ability for later races.
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