Cavendish wins first classic

Eurosport - Tue, 24 Mar 15:29:00 2009

Team Columbia's Mark Cavendish became the first British winner of Milan-Sanremo in 55 years, after a thrilling sprint finish.

Mark Cavendish of Britain sprints ahead of Heinrich Haussler, left, of Germany to win the Milan-San Remo classic - 0

On his first start in the Classica di Primavera, the 23-year-old Manxman chased down Cervelo's Heinrich Haussler over the final 200 metres before edging his front wheel across the finish line ahead of the German.

Haussler's team-mate Thor Hushovd led home the rest of the pack 20 metres back in third, with Allan Davis and home favourite Alessandro Petacchi fourth and fifth respectively.

Many had predicted that the punishing 294-kilometre course, with its numerous leg-sapping hills close the the Italian Riviera, would see Cavendish distanced before the long finishing straight.

But despite a punishing tempo throughout, the Columbia rider looked strong and fresh throughout.

Indeed it had been the tempo's fast pace that had ensured the day's breakaway group never gained more than six minutes on a determined peloton.

With 26 kilometres to go, and at the foot of the Cipressa, the final escapees Sebastien Turgot (Bouygues Telecom), Yuriy Krivtsov (ag2r) and Kasper Klostergaard (Saxo Bank) were reeled in, before a big dig from Tirreno-Adriatico winner Michele Scarponi saw the likes of Lance Armstrong and Robbie McEwen spat out at the back of the pack.

Favourites Tom Boonen and Petacchi struggled over within sight of the lead group, and took advantage of the descent to work themselves back into the reckoning.

Diquigiovanni's Davide Rebellin tried his luck as expected on the Poggio, hotly pursued by four other would-be escapees - including Stefano Garzelli - though the 10 seconds of time they gained was never going to be enough of a cushion to hold off the sprinters' teams after the road into picturesque Sanremo flattened out.

Cavendish took the Poggio with consummate ease, while Thomas Lovkvist and George Hincapie towed him to the front as the kilometres ticked down.

On the inevitable sprint, with the big guns winding themselves up in the centre, Haussler shot clear on the left hand side along the barriers, prompting Cavendish to bury himself perhaps earlier than he would have expected.

With 200 metres to go, it seemed Haussler had the race sewn up, such was his lead over Cavendish, with the likes of Hushovd, Boonen and Petacchi already out of the reckoning.

But Cavendish showed all the speed that saw him dominate the sprints in the Tour de France last year, eating up the ground on Haussler, and edging ahead of his rival just centimetres from the line.

A photo-finish confirmed Cavendish as the winner and he coasted open-mouthed, arms aloft to his team soigneurs.

Eurosport

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  1. I can't help but feel that Lance is taking it easy­ for now,a little bluff perhaps,like on Alpe d'Huez­ when he fooled Telecom??I still think he'll be a­ force at the tour.

    From damienmitchell31, on Mon 23 Mar 10:12AM

  2. Did anyone notice Alonso and Rossi finished 8th and­ 9th. Must be good training for the upcoming GP­ campaignes. ;)

    From Bill K, on Mon 23 Mar 9:46AM

  3. I agree on the headline.
    "Armstrong dropped by­ next generation of champions"

    From henrylucid, on Sun 22 Mar 11:38PM

  4. vindetable (post 11) Columbia react by Cav winning.

    From terrytrudgian, on Sun 22 Mar 10:06PM

  5. The sad thing is a day on and this amazing sporting­ achievement has barely been acknowledged in Britain.­ Rebecca Adington wins a British champonship against­ mediocre opposition and that made national news!

    From jbandbetsymac, on Sun 22 Mar 9:29PM

  6. nice one simonrichardson

    From ralph, on Sun 22 Mar 7:08PM

  7. OK guys, I do know Cav is from the Isle of Man, I­ didn't know it was a touchy subject calling him­ English. I promise to improve my political correctness.­ Apologies from my Celtic, English, British confused­ heart.
    Can I still support Cav even though I'm not­ from the Isle of Man, please?!

    From Sicyclist, on Sun 22 Mar 11:11AM

  8. no keir_williams the real headline is cavendish won!!

    From djwiners, on Sun 22 Mar 9:44AM

  9. Tommy Simpson 1964 thats 45 years then, get it right­ yahoo eurosport

    From S K, on Sun 22 Mar 8:41AM

  10. Tomp Simpson 1064 thats 45 years then, get it right­ yahoo eurosport

    From S K, on Sun 22 Mar 8:40AM

  11. This focus on the winner is very unusual. Surely­ 'Armstrong dropped' should be the real­ headline.

    From keir_williams, on Sun 22 Mar 7:59AM

  12. On the balance of probability Paul may be right, so I­ gave him a thiumbs up. It is not ,now, as simple as­ drugs as blud is now playing a more important role,­ feel free to down thumb me and then open your eyes a­ bit wider.

    From Fattenry, on Sat 21 Mar 10:50PM

  13. Fantastic ride by Cav. Him and Cippolini in his prime­ would be a great battle of speed. I cant think of a­ better sprinter than Cav in the peloton at the moment.­ His awesome.

    From maj, on Sat 21 Mar 10:45PM

  14. Totally agree,Simon,except,er,actually Cav isn't­ English,he's Manx. Credit where due,he's­ idolised on the island!

    From limsharp, on Sat 21 Mar 10:23PM

  15. Totally agree,Simon,except,er,actually Cav isn't­ English,he's Manx. Credit where due,he's­ idolised on the island!

    From limsharp, on Sat 21 Mar 10:19PM

  16. Simon he is not English he is from the Isle of Man.­ Well done Mark you are a Classic winner.. Celtic power.

    From paulandlyndsay, on Sat 21 Mar 10:17PM

  17. Cavendish the new Cippolini, in terms of the greatest­ sprinter since, although with this ride, he may just be­ the new freddy meartens. Well done, i knew he was­ secretly aiming to win this race,just a shame he had to­ beat an aussie/german in Haussler to do it!

    From demi162, on Sat 21 Mar 10:15PM

  18. Cav! Best thing to happen to british cycling for years.­ The track cyclists have laid the foundations for proper­ cycling. Cav not winning any medal at the last Olympics­ on the track is the best thing that could ever happen­ for him and proper cycling. We all know that he was the­ best last year and is the most exciting talent in the­ peleton. Yes he will never win the tour. Bring on­ Flanders, Roubaix, Paris-Tours, The Worlds......and­ more and more Tour stages. And as for people commenting­ on his personality, yes he has one. People say he's­ arrogant. He's English, British and WINNING! He­ should nave been BBC sports personality of the year­ last year, or if not at least Nicole Cook, for their­ successes. But the British public will never see past­ the Olympics, Football, F1 or Boxing. Even poor Andy­ Murray will never win over the British public 'cos­ he's Scottish and Arrogant. Don't loose your­ 'non' personalities Cav and Andy. I'd­ rather have you winning arrogantly over nice, boring­ runners up.

    From Sicyclist, on Sat 21 Mar 9:53PM

  19. Maybe the ignorant bores will stop going on about­ Lance, Lance, Lance & Lance now.

    From flick99.west, on Sat 21 Mar 7:33PM

  20. Fantastic, Cav! Peter Buckley would be proud of you1 I­ just wish I could tell my mates outwith cycling just­ what this means,45 years after Mr.Tom.

    From limsharp, on Sat 21 Mar 5:58PM
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