Getting his first-ever race with the Omega Pharma Quick Step team off to a perfect start, Mark Cavendish blasted to his first success of 2013 when he won today’s opening stage of the Tour de San Luis in Argentina.
The Briton powered home ahead of Sacha Modolo (Bardiani CSF Inox) and Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre-Merida), and also nabbed the first leader’s jersey in the race.
“The team did a great job for me today,” he said afterwards. “We were the first team to start riding, with Martin Velits at the beginning, we were present at the front the whole day. We got help from other teams too, the sprinter teams, but the guys just rode so strong and stayed with me the whole day.
“It is so nice to have a team with me that is 100 percent committed. I'm so, so proud of the guys today.”
Cavendish moved to the Omega Pharma Quick Step team after just one year with Sky; he felt he was not adequately supported there at times due to the team’s drive to take the overall classification in the Tour de France and other events.
He is expected to have a more dedicated leadout train with his new team and rewarded their faith in him with today’s victory.
According to directeur sportif Davide Bramati, the team pulled together very well to give him the platform for success. They chased down a dangerous early break and ensured that a bunch sprint settled the first stage.
“We closed the gap with Michal Kwiatkowski, Pieter Serry, Sylvain Chavanel, and Matteo Trentin,” said Bramati. “They worked really hard for Mark. There is a great team spirit. It's a good day for our riders, but also the staff. The staff worked very hard because it was different — we don't have our car, or our team truck, so it was difficult. But we are all happy with this victory.”
Early on, a septet of riders clipped away and, lacking big European names, were given room to build a lead. Working well together, Flavio De Luna (Mexico), Vojitech Hacecky (ASC Dukla Praha), Magno Nazaret (Funvic Brasilinvest), Walter Perez (Buenos Aires Provincia), Guido Palma (Jamis-Hagens Berman), Gabriel Juarez (Argentina) and Martin Hacecky (ASC Dukla Praha) build an eight minute lead, with the first three of those being the order over the top of the Alto Saladillo climb (category 3, km 55), and the second three being first past the line at the La Toma intermediate sprint (km 78.4).
Perez, Palma and Hackecky were then first, second and third in the second intermediate sprint at Juan Llerena, some 27 kilometres later.
Behind, though, Cavendish’s team, that of Petacchi, Cannondale and Androni Giocattoli ramped up the pace and continued to reduce the advantage. Inside the final hour of racing Hacecky, Perez, Nazaret and Juarez pushed on ahead of the other three, trying desperately to hold on, but they were gradually reeled in.
Once caught, the sprinters’ teams continued to hold a very high speed in order to control the bunch and once into the final kilometre, the Omega Pharma Quick Step riders finished off a fine day’s work by ensuring Cavendish was in the perfect place.
“All the teams are fresh and motivated, so it was real, real chaos,” he said at the end. “It was hard to stay together. I had a few guys with me, and in the finishing straight, between one kilometre and 400 meters it was just kind of about staying at the front.
“It was hard with a bit of a dip into the finish and nothing really marking 100 meters or 200 meters, so I just kind of jumped at 250 meters. I knew when I jumped I'd have a good shot at it, even though there was some wind.”
Petacchi went close but couldn’t get past Cavendish and Modolo. He explained afterwards that he got things slightly wrong.
“At five kilometres to go, a problem occurred with [team-mate] Pozzato when he had to put his wheels off the road because of a skid in the bunch. So, Pippo was forced to a make a recovery to come back in the lead positions in order to join his team mates. The team supported me in a good way and Richeze brought me to the final straight. There I hesitated too much, partly because I could not understand in a proper way the meters that were left to the finish, since the signs boards were not in good positions.
“Cavendish anticipated his action, followed by Modolo, and so I had to try a come back. I couldn’t get more than third place, but satisfied because the team was perfect and I had good sensations.”
Cavendish heads into tomorrow’s 171.4 kilometre race from Tilisarao to Terraza del Portezuelo in the leader’s jersey. He’s psyched by his first race day with Omega Pharma Quick Step and is looking forward to more.
“It feels good to be fresh with a good bunch of guys and on such a fast bike,” he enthused. “The guys really looked after me, so I had 100 percent energy at the finish. I'm so happy I could win.
“The pressure is now off, but we will continue to try and get more results for the team and try to set up our lead out as best we can. We also have a few guys for the GC here, so we will try to be present for both stage hunting and a good place in the GC.”
Tour de San Luis (2.1), Argentina:
Stage 1, San Luis - Villa Mercedes:
1, Mark Cavendish (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) 164 kilometres in 3 hours 48 mins 4 secs
2, Sacha Modolo (Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox)
3, Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre-Merida)
4, Leigh Howard (Orica GreenEdge)
5, Peter Sagan (Cannondale Pro Cycling)
6, Rafael Andriato (Vini Fantini-Selle Italia)
7, Francesco Lasca (Caja Rural)
8, Thor Hushovd (BMC Racing Team)
9, Kenny Dehaes (Lotto Belisol)
10, Miguel Angel Rubiano (Androni Giocattoli)
11, Manuel Belletti (Ag2R La Mondiale)
12, Jacob Keough (UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team)
13, Gustavo Hernandez (Clos de Pirque-Trek)
14, Lucas M. Gaday (Buenos Aires Provincia)
15, Ralf Matzka (Team NetApp-Endura)
16, Juan Jose Haedo (Jamis-Hagens Berman)
17, Maximiliano Richeze (Lampre-Merida)
18, John Murphy (UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team)
19, Tyler Wren (Jamis-Hagens Berman)
20, Arnold Alcolea (Cuba)
21, Grzegorz Stepniak (CCC Polsat Polkowice)
22, Yasmani Martinez (Cuba)
23, Francisco Jose Ventoso (Movistar Team)
24, Jaroslaw Marycz (CCC Polsat Polkowice)
25, Lucas Sebastian Haedo (Cannondale Pro Cycling)
26, Enzo Josue Moyano (Caja Rural)
27, Francisco Chamorro (Funvic Brasilinvest)
28, Mauro Finetto (Vini Fantini-Selle Italia)
29, Andres I. Pereyra (Buenos Aires Provincia)
30, Mauro Santambrogio (Vini Fantini-Selle Italia)
31, Mattia Gavazzi (Androni Giocattoli)
32, Alois Kankovsky (ASC Dukla Praha)
33, Andre Cardoso (Caja Rural)
34, Michel Koch (Cannondale Pro Cycling)
35, Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Lotto Belisol)
36, Francesco Chicchi (Vini Fantini-Selle Italia)
37, Giairo Ermeti (Androni Giocattoli)
38, Juan I. Curuchet (Argentina)
39, Diego Rosa (Androni Giocattoli)
40, Bartiomiej Matysiak (CCC Polsat Polkowice)
41, Bart De Clercq (Lotto Belisol)
42, Javier Acevedo (Jamis-Hagens Berman)
43, Tejay van Garderen (BMC Racing Team)
44, Filippo Fortin (Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox)
45, Ben Gastauer (Ag2R La Mondiale)
46, Diego Ulissi (Lampre-Merida)
47, Alessandro Vanotti (Astana Pro Team)
48, Vincenzo Nibali (Astana Pro Team)
49, Jesus Herrada (Movistar Team)
50, Matteo Montaguti (Ag2R La Mondiale)
51, Dominik Nerz (BMC Racing Team)
52, Robert Forster (UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team)
53, Andrey Zeits (Astana Pro Team)
54, Alejandro Sivori (Argentina)
55, Michal Kwiatkowski (Omega Pharma-Quick Step)
56, Mauro Da Dalto (Cannondale Pro Cycling)
57, Alexander Wetternail (Team NetApp-Endura)
58, Cristian Martinez (San Luis Somos Todos)
59, David Arroyo (Caja Rural)
60, Paolo Tiralongo (Astana Pro Team)
Did not finish: Jose Luis Rivera (Clos de Pirque-Trek)
Category 3 KOM at Alto Saladillo (km 55km):
1, Flavio De Luna (Mexico) 3 pts
2, Vojitech Hacecky (ASC Dukla Praha) 2
3, Magno Nazaret (Funvic Brasilinvest) 1
Intermediate sprint at La Toma (km 78.4):
1, Walter F. Perez (Buenos Aires Provincia) 3 pts
2, Guido Palma (Jamis-Hagens Berman) 2
3, Gabriel N. Juarez (Argentina) 1
Intermediate sprint at Juan Llerena (km 105.3):
1, Walter F. Perez (Buenos Aires Provincia) 3 pts
2, Guido Palma (Jamis-Hagens Berman) 2
3, Vojitech Hacecky (ASC Dukla Praha) 1
Teams:
1, Cannondale Pro Cycling, 11 hours 24 mins 12 secs
2, Vini Fantini-Selle Italia
3, Lampre-Merida
4, Caja Rural
5, Jamis-Hagens Berman
6, Androni Giocattoli
7, UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
8, Lotto Belisol
9, CCC Polsat Polkowice
10, BMC Racing Team
11, Ag2R La Mondiale
12, Buenos Aires Provincia
13, Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox
14, Omega Pharma-Quick Step
15, Orica GreenEdge
16, Team NetApp-Endura
17, Cuba
18, Movistar Team
19, Astana Pro Team
20, Argentina
General classification after stage 1:
1, Mark Cavendish (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) 3 hours 48 mins 4 secs
2, Sacha Modolo (Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox)
3, Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre-Merida)
4, Leigh Howard (Orica GreenEdge)
5, Peter Sagan (Cannondale Pro Cycling)
6, Rafael Andriato (Vini Fantini-Selle Italia)
7, Francesco Lasca (Caja Rural)
8, Thor Hushovd (BMC Racing Team)
9, Kenny Dehaes (Lotto Belisol)
10, Miguel Angel Rubiano (Androni Giocattoli)
11, Manuel Belletti (Ag2R La Mondiale)
12, Jacob Keough (UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team)
13, Gustavo Hernandez (Clos de Pirque-Trek)
14, Lucas M. Gaday (Buenos Aires Provincia)
15, Ralf Matzka (Team NetApp-Endura)
16, Juan Jose Haedo (Jamis-Hagens Berman)
17, Maximiliano Richeze (Lampre-Merida)
18, John Murphy (UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team)
19, Tyler Wren (Jamis-Hagens Berman)
20, Arnold Alcolea (Cuba)
21, Grzegorz Stepniak (CCC Polsat Polkowice)
22, Yasmani Martinez (Cuba)
23, Francisco Jose Ventoso (Movistar Team)
24, Jaroslaw Marycz (CCC Polsat Polkowice)
25, Lucas Sebastian Haedo (Cannondale Pro Cycling)
26, Enzo Josue Moyano (Caja Rural)
27, Francisco Chamorro (Funvic Brasilinvest)
28, Mauro Finetto (Vini Fantini-Selle Italia)
29, Andres I. Pereyra (Buenos Aires Provincia)
30, Mauro Santambrogio (Vini Fantini-Selle Italia)
31, Mattia Gavazzi (Androni Giocattoli)
32, Alois Kankovsky (ASC Dukla Praha)
33, Andre Cardoso (Caja Rural)
34, Michel Koch (Cannondale Pro Cycling)
35, Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Lotto Belisol)
36, Francesco Chicchi (Vini Fantini-Selle Italia)
37, Giairo Ermeti (Androni Giocattoli)
38, Juan I. Curuchet (Argentina)
39, Diego Rosa (Androni Giocattoli)
40, Bartiomiej Matysiak (CCC Polsat Polkowice)
41, Bart De Clercq (Lotto Belisol)
42, Javier Acevedo (Jamis-Hagens Berman)
43, Tejay van Garderen (BMC Racing Team)
44, Filippo Fortin (Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox)
45, Ben Gastauer (Ag2R La Mondiale)
46, Diego Ulissi (Lampre-Merida)
47, Alessandro Vanotti (Astana Pro Team)
48, Vincenzo Nibali (Astana Pro Team)
49, Jesus Herrada (Movistar Team)
50, Matteo Montaguti (Ag2R La Mondiale)
51, Dominik Nerz (BMC Racing Team)
52, Robert Forster (UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team)
53, Andrey Zeits (Astana Pro Team)
54, Alejandro Sivori (Argentina)
55, Michal Kwiatkowski (Omega Pharma-Quick Step)
56, Mauro Da Dalto (Cannondale Pro Cycling)
57, Alexander Wetternail (Team NetApp-Endura)
58, Cristian Martinez (San Luis Somos Todos)
59, David Arroyo (Caja Rural)
60, Paolo Tiralongo (Astana Pro Team)
Mountains classification:
1, Flavio De Luna (Mexico) 3 pts
2, Vojitech Hacecky (ASC Dukla Praha) 2
3, Magno Nazaret (Funvic Brasilinvest) 1
Sprint classification:
1, Walter F. Perez (Buenos Aires Provincia) 6 pts
2, Guido Palma (Jamis-Hagens Berman) 4
3, Gabriel N. Juarez (Argentina) 1
4, Vojitech Hacecky (ASC Dukla Praha) 1
Young rider classification:
1, Lucas M. Gaday (Buenos Aires Provincia)
2, Michel Koch (Cannondale Pro Cycling)
3, Juan I. Curuchet (Argentina)
4, Alejandro Sivori (Argentina)
5, Cristian Martinez (San Luis Somos Todos)
6, Facundo Lezica (Argentina)
Teams classification:
1, Cannondale Pro Cycling,11 hours 24 mins 12 secs
2, Vini Fantini-Selle Italia
3, Lampre-Merida
4, Caja Rural
5, Jamis-Hagens Berman
6, Androni Giocattoli
7, UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
8, Lotto Belisol
9, CCC Polsat Polkowice
10, BMC Racing Team
11, Ag2R La Mondiale
12, Buenos Aires Provincia
13, Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox
14, Orica GreenEdge
15, Team NetApp-Endura
16, Cuba
17, Movistar Team
18, Astana Pro Team
19, Argentina
20, Clos de Pirque-Trek